Boat capsizing on the Ganga near Raghopur kills 13, most of them children
A boat overturned on the Ganga near Raghopur in Vaishali district on the night of Oct 13, killing 13 people, including 12 children.
On Oct 13, a boat capsized on the Ganga near Raghopur, Vaishali district, leaving 13 dead, 12 of them children, as people traveled to a celebration. Initial information points to possible overcrowding of the small craft. River transport is vital in Bihar, where over 7,000 boat services operate from 1,550 ghats and the state plans new jetties at 150 sites.
Journalists have observed missing load-line markings and scarce life jackets at local ghats, echoing earlier tragedies in Khagaria, Patna and other districts. Repeated accidents in 2009, 2017, 2020, 2021 and May 2026 underscore persistent safety shortcomings despite periodic official directives. The latest loss renews calls for stronger enforcement of existing boat-safety rules.
Why it matters
The tragedy highlights ongoing safety failures in Bihar's essential river transport system.
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