At least 10 people died after a boat carrying pilgrims capsized in the Yamuna River near Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district. The incident happened on Friday and most of the victims were devotees from Punjab who had come for a religious visit.
Officials said the boat was carrying more people than it should have. There were around 25 to 37 passengers on board, which made the boat unstable. During the journey, the boat reportedly hit a structure in the river, such as a floating bridge, and suddenly overturned.
Eyewitnesses said everything happened very quickly. Passengers started screaming and trying to save themselves as the boat flipped over. Many of them could not swim, and there were not enough safety measures like life jackets, which made the situation worse.
Rescue teams reached the spot soon after the accident. Local people, divers, police, and disaster response teams worked together to pull people out of the water. So far, more than 15 to 20 people have been rescued. Some of them were injured and taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
However, a few people are still missing, and rescue operations are continuing to find them. Authorities are using boats and divers to search the river.
Most of the victims were from Punjab, including people from Ludhiana and nearby areas. They were part of a group visiting Vrindavan, a popular religious place. The governments of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab have expressed sadness over the deaths and promised help to the affected families.
Officials have started an investigation to find out the exact reason for the accident. Early reports suggest that overcrowding, lack of safety arrangements, and the collision caused the tragedy.
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