Eleven dead, mostly children, after boat capsizes on Ganga in Bihar's Raghopur

Eleven people, most of them children, died on Tuesday when a boat capsized on the Ganga River in Bihar's Raghopur area. The boat was carrying passengers when it overturned, sending many into the fast‑moving water. Rescue teams pulled survivors from the river and sent them to nearby hospitals for treatment. Senior district officials, including the district magistrate and the superintendent of police, arrived at the scene shortly after the accident. They oversaw the rescue operation and coordinated medical assistance for the injured. Local authorities have begun an inquiry to determine why the boat sank, but no official cause has been released yet. Families of the victims gathered at the riverbank, awaiting identification of the deceased. The incident has prompted calls for stricter safety checks on small passenger boats operating on the Ganga.

Context

River travel is common in Bihar, especially in rural areas where roads are scarce. Overcrowding and poor boat maintenance have been linked to similar accidents in the past.