In a tragic incident on Thursday morning, a small boat carrying 14 passengers capsized in the mighty River Ganga in Bihar's Samastipur district.The accident occurred around 5:45 AM near Umanath Ghat when the passengers were returning from agricultural fields in Sultanpur Diara after harvesting parwal vegetables.

Strong winds combined with a malfunctioning motor of the dinghy led to the boat overturning suddenly, causing panic among the villagers from Masoomganj Bind Toli in Patna district.

According to police and district administration officials, rescue teams including local divers, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) promptly reached the spot.Seven passengers were successfully rescued, while three bodies have been recovered so far, including one woman.Search operations continued till late evening for the four missing individuals.Patna District Magistrate SM Thiyagarajan stated that the victims were daily wage workers crossing the river for farming activities.

Mohiuddin Nagar Circle Officer Brijesh Kumar Dwivedi and Barh SDPO Ram Krishna confirmed the details and assured that joint efforts from Samastipur and Patna administrations are ongoing to locate the missing persons.This unfortunate event highlights the risks associated with river travel in small boats during unfavourable weather conditions in the region.Local authorities have appealed for caution while using such transport on the Ganga, especially during windy periods.The families of the victims are in deep sorrow, and the administration is providing necessary support to them.

Such boat mishaps are not uncommon in Bihar due to the vast river network, underscoring the need for better safety measures and regulated water transport facilities.