Mathura— A tragic accident unfolded on the Yamuna River on Friday after a passenger boat capsized near Gokul Barrage and Keshi Ghat, leaving at least 10 people dead, eight injured, and several others missing. Most of the victims are reported to be from Punjab, who had travelled to the religious town.
According to officials, around 25 to 37 people were on board when the incident occurred in the afternoon. Preliminary reports suggest that the boat collided with a pontoon bridge, possibly due to strong winds and ongoing repair work in the area, causing it to overturn suddenly.
Rescue operations were launched immediately, with teams from local police, fire services, and disaster response units rushing to the spot. So far, over 20 people have been rescued and shifted to nearby hospitals for treatment, while search operations continue to locate the missing individuals.
Authorities have confirmed the identities of 10 deceased victims, including Kavita Rani (49), Mamta, Rishabh Gulati, Madhu Behal, Asha Rani, Pinki Behal, Anuj Gulati, Ishaan Kathuria, Nitin Bansal, and Savna Hans (55). Among the injured are Pinki, Manju, Savita, Tanish Jain, Rekha, Rajesh Kaur, Saroj, and Jyoti, who are currently undergoing treatment.
Five individuals — Manik Chadda, Pankaj Malhotra, Riya Sharma, Yash Bhatia, and Monika — are still reported missing, with intensive search efforts underway involving divers and specialized teams.
Senior police officials stated that the exact cause of the accident is under investigation, though initial findings point towards the collision with the pontoon bridge as the primary trigger.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the incident and extended condolences to the bereaved families, while Yogi Adityanath termed the tragedy “extremely heart-rending” and directed officials to ensure proper medical care for the injured and expedite rescue operations.
As authorities continue their efforts, the incident has once again raised concerns over safety measures and regulation of boat operations in crowded religious destinations.
