Patna: Three minor girls, including two sisters, were feared drowned after a country boat carrying family members and cattle capsized in the Gandak river near Dumariya Ghat in Sidhwalia block of Gopalganj district on Friday morning. Their grandmother and two boys were rescued by the boatman.
Victims Identified
The missing girls have been identified as Riya Kumari (9) and Kriti Kumari (7), daughters of Chandan Yadav of Tandasur village, and Ananya Kumari (8), daughter of Majister Yadav of Dumariya. Ananya was the maternal cousin of Riya and Kriti.
Sequence of Events
According to villagers, Munni Devi left home around 7am with her granddaughters Riya, Kriti and Ananya, along with her grandsons Abhimanyu and Ankit, to harvest a crop on the other side of the river. They reached the riverbank around 7.30am, where boatman Satyendra Yadav was waiting. Satyendra ferried the family across the river. However, shortly after the boat set off, strong winds lashed the area and the boat capsized. While Riya, Kriti and Ananya were swept away by the strong current, the boatman managed to rescue Munni Devi, Abhimanyu and Ankit.
Rescue Operation Underway
On receiving information, Mohammadpur SHO Chandan Kumar reached the spot and launched an investigation. SDPO-II Rajesh Kumar said, "Three girls are feared drowned due to bad weather and strong river current. An SDRF team has been sent to the spot and search for the missing girls is on," he said. The administration and rescue teams are making efforts to search missing girls, he added.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, with villagers gathering at the riverbank to assist in the search. Authorities have urged people to exercise caution during adverse weather conditions and avoid crossing rivers in overcrowded boats.
Further updates on the rescue operation are awaited.
