Overloaded boat capsizes en route to Hindu festival in India, killing 13 children

PATNA, India - An overloaded boat capsized on the Ganges river en route to a Hindu festival, resulting in the tragic loss of 13 children, according to officials. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the "deeply painful" incident. The boat overturned in the Vaishali district of north-eastern Bihar state late yesterday night.

Local villagers used the light from mobile phones and torches to search for victims in the darkness, managing to rescue only three children. Villager Ramlakhan Rai reported that the boat was "small" and "not in good condition," with people crammed onto a vessel designed for a few. Six people, including two children, were pulled out alive, two in critical condition.

The local health center sent four children and two adults to the district hospital, where efforts to revive them were unsuccessful, leaving a total of 13 dead. Vaishali district magistrate Varsha Singh confirmed the recovery of 13 bodies. Modi announced compensation for their families, expressing his thoughts with the bereaved families during this difficult time.

Boat accidents are common on Indian waterways, often due to overcrowding, inadequate safety enforcement, and insufficient life-saving equipment.