Overloaded boat capsizes in Varanasi, all 34 rescued

Varanasi, Nov 26:-- An overloaded boat carrying 34 tourists, all residents of the Rajahmundry district of Andhra Pradesh in South India sank in the Ganges on Saturday morning.

The accident took place at around 7 am near Ahilyabai Ghat due to overcrowding and non-compliance with safety norms during boat operations. When the people on the boat were fighting to save their lives, sensing the danger, the boatman, who was sailing the boat, escaped by jumping into the Ganges.

Soon the NDRF and Water Police teams got involved in relief and rescue work. According to the police, all the people have been safely saved with the help of the local people.

After paying obeisance to Kashi Vishwanath in the morning, tourists left for boating in large numbers. Even before reaching the sand on the other side of the river, the boat suddenly started filling with water. Eyewitness Rajesh Tiwari said that as soon as the boat started sinking, the boatman jumped and ran away. Somehow all the people were saved safely with the help of the local people, but two people P Vijay and P Adinarayan have been sent to the Hospital.

According to information, this was the boat of Kedar Ghat's boatman Amit Sahni on which more passengers were seated beyond the capacity. The boat was also very old. Passengers said that neither life jackets nor lifeguards were available in the boat. After the accident, people started reaching the spot with their resources to rescue the victims hearing their screams.

Meanwhile, two passengers suffered minor injuries. Both are husband and wife. They have been admitted at BHU. It is said told that the condition of P Adinarayana and P Vijaya is normal and they have been shifted from emergency to the general ward.

The Dashashwamedh police have detained the guilty boatman. All the passengers were sent by another boat.

To review the arrangements of treatment, District Magistrate S. Rajalingam reached the BHU emergency ward and inquired about the condition and treatment of the patients. CMO Dr Sandeep Chowdhary and BHU CMS Dr KKGupta were present on the occasion.

Varanasi Police Commissioner A Satish Ganesh interacted with the victims in his mother tongue Telugu after the accident. He spoke to the doctors of BHU for the treatment of the injured and said that relief and rescue work began immediately by the police administration with the help of divers. The commissioner assured that all possible help would be provided to the victims.