Six drown as boat capsizes

NAGPUR, Dec 30: At least six persons, including two women and three children, were feared drowned when a boat, carrying 25 people, capsized ...

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NAGPUR, Dec 30: At least six persons, including two women and three children, were feared drowned when a boat, carrying 25 people, capsized in the Wardha River close to Kalambh village in Yavatmal district yesterday evening. The boat was carrying pilgrims to the annual jatra at Koteshwar temple in the jurisdiction of Devdi police station of Wardha rural district.

A spokesman of the Wardha Rural Police Control Room told The Indian Express that the bodies of two victims, Vaibhav Vijay Nawade (3) and Nalubai alias Babybai Vasantrao Barde (40), were recovered from the river.

The others, Pranita Sudhakar Barde (3), Prabha Bhagwan Barde (25), Gaurav Bhagwan Barde (6) and Meenabai Vijay Nawade (30), were reported missing. The police have requisitioned the services of divers to locate their bodies. Nine other persons, most of them women, were admitted to the rural hospital at Kalambh, the spokesman said.

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The tragedy occurred around 5.15 p m when the boat touched the shores of Kalambh. Chaos prevailed as some people hurried forward to disembark from the boat while others made haste to board it. In the process, the boat capsized, the spokesman said.

In the ensuing commotion, almost everyone aboard the small boat fell into the river. A few villagers in the vicinity rushed to the rescue of the hapless victims. Nineteen victims were pulled out to safety and the bodies of the two deceased were recovered. The boatman Ramesh Karluke of Rohnigaon saved at least five victims from the river, the spokesman added.

Senior officials, including the Superintendents of Police and Collectors of Wardha and Yavatmal districts, rushed to the site to take stock of the situation. A case of accident has been registered by the police.