At least 10 people were killed after a boat carrying more than two dozen passengers collided with a pontoon bridge on the Yamuna river near Keshi Ghat in Mathura on Friday. According to the police, around 25 to 27 people were traveling in the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Mathura DIG Shailesh Kumar Pandey said that the incident happened in the afternoon and the rescue operation is still going on.
Pandey told reporters, “A boat accident occurred in the Yamuna river at around 3.15 pm, at a place where a pontoon bridge is located. It is being reported that around 25 to 27 people were on board the boat… Based on the information given by eyewitnesses so far, the preliminary cause of the accident appears to be that the boat collided with the pontoon bridge, causing the accident. Ten bodies have been recovered from the spot.”
“Fire and police teams, along with local divers and sailors are actively engaged in relief and rescue operations. NDRF and SDRF teams have also been dispatched from their respective bases and are expected to reach the spot soon. The search for the missing persons is underway,” he said.
SP Rural Suresh Chandra Rawat said that so far 22 people have been rescued and have been taken to the hospital.
“So far, 22 people have been rescued from the water. The rescued people were immediately taken to the hospital with the help of ambulances and eight police rescue vehicles (PRVs). We are currently taking stock of the situation to know how many people are safe and how many have lost their lives,” he said.
Rawat further said that the pontoon bridge located in the area was under repair and the accident could possibly be related to the ongoing repair work. “There is a pontoon bridge located here. Since it was in a dilapidated condition, an agency was repairing the pontoons. It is suspected that the accident might have occurred during this ongoing repair work,” he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
He said, “I am deeply saddened by the boat capsizing accident in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. My deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The local administration is providing assistance to the affected people.”
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the incident as “extremely tragic and heartbreaking” and said officials have been directed to ensure proper treatment of the injured.
He said, “This accident in Mathura district is extremely sad and heart-wrenching. My sympathies are with the families of the victims. Instructions have been issued to the concerned authorities to immediately reach the spot, carry out rescue and relief work and make arrangements for proper treatment of the injured. I pray to Lord Shri Ram that the departed souls get eternal peace and the bereaved families get the strength to bear this immense grief, and the injured get speedy recovery.”
