Mathura (UP), Apr 11 (PTI) The death toll in the boat capsize tragedy in Yamuna river in Mathura has climbed to 11 after the recovery of one body in the search and rescue operation on Saturday, officials said, adding that the operator of the ill-fated vessel has been arrested.
In-charge of the Health department’s Rapid Response Team, Bhudev Prasad, said that the body of a man was recovered from near Devraha Baba Ghat, almost 1 kilometre from the spot where the boat had capsized in Vrindavan on Friday.
The deceased has been identified as Manik Tandon (42), a resident of Ludhiana, Prasad added.
Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) Pankaj Kumar Verma, too, confirmed that a body has been recovered.
Citing National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) officials engaged in the search operation, Verma said that although the search for the missing persons is currently focused within a 14-kilometre radius from the spot where the boat had capsized, there is a possibility that they may have been swept much further downstream.
So far, 22 people have been rescued, while four remain missing. Personnel from the Army’s Strike One Corps and the NDRF remain engaged in the search operation for the missing individuals for over 20 hours.
Verma said that once the operation is concluded, the district magistrate will constitute an inquiry committee and issue orders for an investigation into the matter.
Vrindavan police station SHO Sanjay Pandey said that the boat’s operator, Pappu, was arrested late on Friday night.
He is accused of failing to provide life jackets to any of the passengers before allowing them to board the boat, and despite their objections, he maintained a high speed. This resulted in the boat losing control and colliding with a pontoon bridge, which led to the accident, officials said.
Earlier in the day, the boat that capsized was retrieved, and no bodies were found trapped underneath it.
DIG (Agra range) Shailesh Kumar Pandey had said that there is a possibility that some among the missing persons may have drowned in the river. He also said that the condition of those injured in the mishap is reported to be stable.
“The post-mortem examination of the bodies is nearly complete. Arrangements are underway to transport the bodies of the deceased to their respective places,” the DIG said.
Meanwhile, Mathura MP Hema Malini expressed her condolences over the tragic incident.
“I am deeply saddened to hear about the loss of life. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families in this hour of grief. I pray to Lord Krishna for the speedy recovery of those injured and for strength for the families of the deceased,” she said in her message.
The ill-fated boat was carrying tourists, primarily from Punjab, and it capsized in the Yamuna in Vrindavan on Friday afternoon.
The tourists were part of a larger group of about 150 pilgrims from Ludhiana and Muktsar in Punjab who had come to Vrindavan.
The accident occurred near Kesi Ghat when the boat carrying over two dozen tourists moved into deeper waters and hit a floating pontoon, officials said.
Authorities noted that a pontoon bridge was recently dismantled in the area due to rising water levels, leaving some pontoon drums in the river. It is believed that the boat may have collided with one of these floating drums.
Locals on Friday had told the media that the boat began to sway violently due to gusty winds, picked up speed and collided with a pontoon bridge, causing it to overturn.
Officials, however, said that the boat collided with a floating pontoon drum left behind after the pontoon bridge was dismantled recently. PTI COR NAV AMJ AMJ
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.