Vadodara: Authorities in Gujarat reported that a boat capsized on a lake on the outskirts of Vadodara city on Thursday, killing fourteen pupils and two teachers. The officials noted that when the disaster happened at Harni Lake in the afternoon, the people on board the unfortunate boat were enjoying a picnic.
“The boat capsizing disaster claimed the lives of sixteen people, including two teachers and fourteen students. SSG Hospital has admitted one of the rescued students,” an official from the Harni police station stated.
Officials from the National Disaster Response Force reported that the search and rescue effort at the location was still ongoing and that four people were still unaccounted for. Officials had earlier stated that there were 27 people on board, including four teachers and 23 students.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the deaths caused by a boat capsizing at Vadodara’s Harni Lake in a message posted on the social media site X. My condolences go out to the families of the deceased during this time of loss. I hope the injured person heals quickly.
“Those impacted are receiving all the help that the local government can muster. The next of kin of each deceased would receive an ex-gratia payment from PMNRF of Rs 2 lakh each. The PM went on, “The injured would receive Rs 50,000.”
When Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel arrived at the scene in the evening, he was keeping an eye on the rescue effort being conducted by members of the local fire department, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and other organisations.
Before authorities got at the scene, several people were escorted to safety by locals, according to Vadodara Chief Fire Officer Parth Brahmbhatt.