Mathura Boat Tragedy Concludes as Final Victim's Body Recovered
In a tragic conclusion to the search operation, the body of the lone missing person from last week's devastating boat capsizing in Mathura was recovered on Thursday morning. This discovery brings the official death toll from the incident to 16 individuals.
Recovery of the Final Victim
Officials confirmed that the body of 40-year-old Pankaj Malhotra was found around 10 am, approximately seven days after the accident occurred. The remains surfaced due to natural decomposition processes and were located 2.5 kilometers downstream from the original accident site.
The recovery took place near Devraha Baba Ghat beneath the Panigaon bridge, marking the end of an extensive search operation that spanned a 30-kilometer stretch of the Yamuna River.
Massive Search Operation Concluded
Authorities have now officially called off the large-scale search effort that involved multiple agencies working in coordination. The operation included:
- Local police forces
- National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams
- State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel
- Experienced local divers familiar with the river currents
This multi-agency approach represented one of the most comprehensive river search operations conducted in the region in recent memory.
Victim Identified as Punjab Resident
DSP Sandeep Kumar provided details about the recovered victim, Pankaj Malhotra, who was a resident of Firozpur in Punjab. According to official statements, Malhotra worked as a manager at a steel company located in Himachal Pradesh.
"He arrived alone in Vrindavan on Friday," DSP Kumar explained. "He was part of the group that was boating on the Yamuna when the vessel capsized, leading to his tragic drowning. His family has been informed about the recovery, and the body will be handed over to them after the necessary postmortem procedures are completed."
The victim is survived by his wife and two children, adding to the human tragedy of this incident.
Details of the Fatal Accident
The tragic accident occurred on Friday when a boat carrying 38 pilgrims from Punjab capsized after colliding with a floating drum attached to a pontoon bridge. The incident took place near Keshi Ghat along the Yamuna River.
Police reports indicate that 22 people were successfully rescued from the water during the immediate response to the capsizing, while others unfortunately drowned in the chaotic aftermath.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
Following the incident, authorities registered a First Information Report (FIR) against both the boatmen operating the vessel and the contractor responsible for removing the pontoon bridge. Both parties were arrested under BNS section 105, which addresses culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Officials have emphasized that an investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause of the accident. This probe aims to identify all contributing factors and implement measures to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future along the Yamuna River and other water bodies used for religious pilgrimages.
The Mathura boat tragedy has highlighted significant safety concerns regarding river transportation during religious festivals and pilgrimages, prompting calls for stricter regulations and better safety protocols for water-based devotional activities.
