At least 12 school children and two teachers died after a boat overturned in a lake on the outskirts of Gujarat’s Vadodara on Thursday, reported The Indian Express.
A total of 60 students and four teachers of a private school had gone to Harni Lake for a picnic. “The children arrived at the lake at 4.30 pm and, accompanied by their teachers, boarded the boat,” said Dr Sheetal Mistry, the chairperson of Vadodara Municipal Corporation’s standing committee.
The police said that while the boat could carry 16 passengers, it had 34 occupants, including 30 students and four teachers when the accident occurred. Eighteen students and two teachers were rescued.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that he has instructed the administration in the district to provide immediate relief and treatment to those rescued.
The police have registered a first information report against 18 people under Indian Penal Code Sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to culpable homicide), and 337 (rash or negligent act endangering human life).
Among those booked is Kotia Projects, the company that runs the boating facility called Lake Zone in partnership with the Vadodara Municipal Corporation, according to The Indian Express.
The police have also arrested three persons, including the manager of Lake Zone.
A high-level probe panel was formed to investigate the case.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of the dead and announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000 to them.
“Distressed by the loss of lives due to a boat capsizing at the Harni lake in Vadodara,” Modi said in a tweet. “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.”
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the deaths of the students were heart-rending.
“Many students are still reported missing in this accident,” Kharge said. “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.”
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