FloodSafety – Six Missing After Overloaded Boat Capsizes in Yamuna River
FloodSafety – A major rescue operation continued late into Wednesday night after a small overcrowded boat overturned in the Yamuna River in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur district, leaving at least six people missing, including women and children. The incident took place near Kutubpur Patiya hamlet under Bhauli gram panchayat in the Kurara police station area.
Villagers Were Returning From River Island
According to officials, several villagers had crossed the river earlier in the day to collect muskmelons and cucumbers from an island situated in the middle of the Yamuna. The group was returning to the riverbank around evening when the accident occurred.
Authorities said the small boat was carrying more passengers than its safe capacity. Around 6 pm, the vessel reportedly lost balance in deep water and overturned midstream, throwing everyone into the river. Local residents immediately raised an alarm after witnessing the incident.
Boatman Rescues Three Passengers
Police officials confirmed that the boatman, identified as Dheeru, managed to pull three passengers to safety despite the difficult conditions in the river. The rescued individuals were identified as Vishnu, Rinku, and Parul.
The survivors were later taken to the Community Health Centre in Kurara, where doctors provided medical treatment and observation. Their condition was reported to be stable.
Search Continues for Missing People
Rescue teams continued searching for six missing persons late into the night. The missing individuals were identified as Rani, Akanksha, Brajrani, Lavayansh, Gorelal, and Aditya.
Divers from the local administration were deployed soon after the accident. However, officials admitted that darkness and difficult river conditions slowed down the operation. Additional rescue equipment and personnel were arranged along the riverbank to support the ongoing search.
Chief Minister Orders Immediate Action
Following the incident, Yogi Adityanath took note of the situation and instructed senior administrative and police officers to conduct rescue work on priority.
Officials said the Chief Minister directed authorities to ensure that every possible effort was made to locate the missing people quickly. He also instructed district officials to remain present at the site and closely supervise the operation.
The state government reportedly warned that any negligence during rescue efforts would be viewed seriously. Assistance for the affected families has also been ordered.
Senior Officials Reach Accident Site
Several top district officers reached the location soon after the boat capsized. Abhishek Goyal and Mrigank Shekhar Pathak monitored the rescue arrangements and directed teams to intensify the search operation along the river.
Police personnel were deployed across nearby areas to assist divers and maintain safety at the site. Officials also confirmed that teams from the National Disaster Response Force had been alerted and were expected to join the operation to strengthen rescue efforts.
Authorities Monitor Situation Closely
Additional Director General of Police Jyoti Narayan stated that three people had been rescued while search operations for the missing passengers were continuing. Authorities said further updates would be shared after rescue teams completed overnight operations in the affected stretch of the river.