Vrindavan Boat Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 13 as Search Intensifies for Missing Devotees
Agra: In a tragic development, two more bodies were recovered from the Yamuna River in Vrindavan on Sunday, escalating the death toll to 13 in Friday's devastating boat accident. The motorboat, carrying devotees predominantly from Punjab, capsized after colliding with a pontoon bridge near Kesi Ghat.
Recovery of Victims and Ongoing Search Operations
Police authorities confirmed that search operations remain active for three missing devotees following the recovery of the latest victims. The bodies were identified as Rishabh Sharma, a 22-year-old man, and Diki Bansal, a 21-year-old woman, both hailing from Ludhiana in Punjab. Rishabh's body was discovered approximately 3 kilometers downstream from the accident site.
SP (Rural) Suresh Chandra Rawat stated that family members have positively identified the two bodies. The three individuals still unaccounted for are Pankaj Malhotra, Yash Bhalla, and Monica. Their families have arrived in Vrindavan and are stationed near the ghats, anxiously awaiting any positive news.
Investigation Reveals Critical Safety Lapses
An initial investigation into the catastrophe has uncovered severe safety violations. The boatman was found to have carried significantly more passengers than the permitted capacity and failed to provide essential safety kits to the devotees. Furthermore, the contractor responsible for the pontoon bridge was pulling a section of the floating structure without prior notification, and no security measures were in place near the pontoon pool.
District Magistrate CP Singh announced, "A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered against the motorboat operator and the pontoon bridge contractor. Both individuals have been arrested. Additional DM (finance and revenue) Pankaj Verma is leading a thorough probe, and decisive action will be taken against all parties responsible for this tragedy."
Intensified Rescue Efforts and Family Anguish
Mathura Additional DM Amreesh Kumar detailed the rescue efforts, noting that operations commence daily at 6 am. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), and local police have all intensified their search for the remaining three missing persons.
DSP Sandeep Singh explained that the Yamuna river stretch from Keshi Ghat to Gokul Barrage has been strategically divided into seven sectors, each supervised by a Station House Officer (SHO) to optimize the search operation.
The human cost of the disaster is profoundly felt by the families. Rakesh Bhalla, father of missing 20-year-old Yash Bhalla, shared his heartbreak with TOI, "I traveled from Ludhiana immediately after hearing the tragic news. Yash was joyfully playing the dholak as everyone sang bhajans on the boat. He was a student in the 12th grade."
Background of the Fatal Incident
The accident occurred on Friday when a boat transporting 38 pilgrims from Punjab capsized after striking a floating drum of a pontoon bridge near Kesi Ghat in Vrindavan. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for stricter enforcement of water safety regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future.
