Boat Capsizes in Bagmati River: 24 Women Rescued, One Missing in Sheohar District
A boat carrying 25 women passengers capsized in the Bagmati river near Mahadeva village under Tariyani police station area of Sheohar district on Friday, sparking a frantic rescue effort. The incident occurred as the women were traveling to their fields to harvest wheat, with the boat overturning midstream due to unknown causes.
Swift Rescue Response Saves Most Passengers
Local residents and authorities responded immediately upon hearing screams from the river, where women were seen struggling to stay afloat in the water. Eyewitnesses reported a chaotic scene as some women managed to swim to safety while others were pulled to shore by brave locals who rushed to help.
Through coordinated efforts, 24 of the 25 women were successfully rescued from the Bagmati river. However, one passenger, identified as 30-year-old Gulshan Khatoon, remains missing and is feared drowned. The strong current in the river reportedly swept her away before rescuers could reach her.
Infrastructure Challenges in River Crossings
The tragedy highlights the ongoing infrastructure challenges in the region. According to local information, the absence of a bridge over the Bagmati river forces residents of several villages to rely on boat transportation for daily activities.
Residents from villages including Motanaje, Mahadeva, Jagdishpur Kothiyan, and Sharifnagar under Tariyani block regularly cross the river to reach their farmlands in the Belsand area of Sheohar district. This dangerous daily commute underscores the need for safer river crossing alternatives in the region.
Official Response and Ongoing Search Operations
Sub-Divisional Officer Avinash Kunal confirmed that authorities acted swiftly upon receiving information about the incident. "Instructions were immediately issued to send NDRF teams and officials to the spot," Kunal stated. "A comprehensive rescue operation was carried out, but due to the strong current, Gulshan was swept away and has not been traced yet."
The search operation for the missing woman will continue on Saturday, with rescue teams determined to locate her despite the challenging river conditions. The incident has left the local community in shock and mourning, with many questioning the safety measures for river transportation in the area.
This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with river travel in regions lacking proper infrastructure, particularly during agricultural seasons when farmers must regularly cross waterways to tend to their crops.
