Vadodara tragedy: 16 schoolkids, teachers out on picnic drown as boat capsizes

In a terrible tragedy, 16 people including 14 school children andtwo teachers, died on Thursday as the boat they were on overturned in the Harni Lake on the outskirts of Vadodara in Gujarat. The boat was carrying 27 students accompanied by their teachers who were out on a picnic. Chief minister Bhupendra Patel has reached the site; Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office announced ex gratia.

Gujarat education minister Kuber Dindor said the NDRF and the fire brigade personnel have been deployed for the search operation. After hours-long rescue operation, chief fire officer Parth Brahmbhatt said there was no one missing.

“A boat carrying school students, who came here on a picnic, overturned in Harni lake in the afternoon. The fire brigade has so far rescued seven students, while search is on for the missing ones,” Vadodara’s chief fire officer Parth Brahmbhatt said.

Some locals rescued some children before the fire brigade personnel reached the spot.

Vadodara MP Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt said strict action will be taken against whoever is responsible for the mishap. The rescued students have been taken to different hospitals, the MP said. The boat was loaded beyond its capacity.

“Distressed by the loss of lives due to a boat capsizing at the Harni lake in Vadodara. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected. An ex-gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000,” Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement.

Chief minister Bhupendra Patel expressed condolences to the families of the children who lost their lives. “The incident of children drowning after the boat capsized in Vadodara’s Harni lake is extremely heartbreaking. I pray for the peace of the souls of the innocent children who lost their lives. My deepest condolences to their families in this hour of sorrow. May the Merciful God give them the strength to bear this sorrow. The rescue operation of the students and teachers on board the boat is currently going on. The system has been instructed to provide immediate relief and treatment to the victims of the accident,” the chief minister posted on X.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted, “The news of the death of many students, including teachers, due to the boat capsizing in Vadodara, Gujarat is extremely heart-wrenching. Many students are still reported missing in this accident. The Gujarat government and administration are requested to expedite the relief and rescue operations and make every possible effort to save the lives of the students. In this hour of grief, we stand with the bereaved families and express our deepest condolences.”

According to reports, the students accompanied by some teachers were from New Sunrise School in Panigate.

They came for a picnic at the lake at around 4.30pm and boarded a boat.

The boat apparently had a seating capacity of 16 but 27 were on it.

It is not yet known whether they were wearing life jackets.

PM Modi announced an ex gratia of ₹2 lakh from PMNRF to the next of kin of each deceased.

Chief minister Bhupendra Patel announced a compensation of ₹4 lakh each to the next of kind of deceased and ₹50,000 for the injured.

Gujarat chief minister reached the accident site in the evening as the rescue work went on.
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