Vadodara boat capsize: Rescue ops underway; cops register case
Two teams of Vadodara Fire and Emergency Services are currently on standby at Harni Motnath Lake where a boat capsized in Vadodara`s Harni Motnath Lake on Thursday killing 14 persons including 12 students and two teachers.
Speaking to ANI, Jaideep Gadhavi, sub-fire officer, stated that 14 of the twenty people previously rescued died, including the teachers. Two Vadodara Fire Service units are still on standby at the incident site, utilising underwater cameras to aid the search operation.
“We received information that a boat has capsized in the Harni Motnath Lake. We rescued 20 people, of whom 14 died, including two teachers. Two teams of Vadodara Fire Service are in standby mode at the incident spot,” he told ANI while elaborating on the rescue operations of the Vadodara boat capsize incident.
“Eight teams of the Vadodara Rescue Team immediately reached the spot. The search operation is underway with the help of an underwater camera. Efforts are being made to identify some children based on their belongings. At 10 am we will file the missing report after the search is over,” Gadhavi further told the news agency.
Meanwhile, DCP Vadodara Leela Patil confirmed that they have filed a case after the Vodadara boat capsize incident and post-mortem procedures are in progress. “A boat carrying children capsized in Harni Motnath Lake. 14 people have died in this incident. A case has been registered. The post-mortem of the bodies is underway,” Patil told ANI.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi paid a visit to the injured at SSG Hospital in Vadodara. The deceased victims, including schoolchildren and teachers, have been identified, and one survivor, Sufiya Shaukat Shaikh (13), is receiving treatment. He also ordered an inquiry in the case to ensure justice.
The deceased are: Mohammad Ayan Mohammad Anis Gandhi (13); Falguniben Manishbhai Patel (45); Roshni Pankajbhai Shinde (10); Rutwi Pratik Shah (10); Chhayaben Surati (45); Jahabiya Mohammad Yunus Subedar (10); Vishv Kumar Kalpeshbhai Nizama (10); Rayan Harun Khalifa (10); Sakina Sokat Abdulrasur (9); Alisabanu Mahamad Umar Kothariwala (9); Muvavza Mohamed Mahir Sheikh (8); Nancy Rahul Mali (8); Ayat Altaf Huseni Mansuri (9); Asiya Faruk Khalifa (11).
Meanwhile, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, speaking with ANI, said that a case has been registered under Sections 304, 308 and 114 of the Indian Penal Code against the accused persons. “Two accused have been nabbed and a magisterial inquiry has been handed over to Vadodara District Collector,” Sanghavi told ANI.
PM Modi, HM Amit Shah announce ex-gratia
Expressing condolences, Home Minister Amit Shah extended prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured children.
વડોદરાના હરણીના મોટનાથ તળાવમાં શાળાના બાળકોની હોડી ડૂબી જવાની ઘટના હૃદયદ્રાવક છે. મેં આ સંદર્ભે મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી @Bhupendrapbjp જી સાથે વાત કરી. NDRFની ટીમો રાહત અને બચાવ કાર્યમાં લાગેલી છે. હું આ દુર્ઘટનામાં જીવ ગુમાવનારા બાળકોના પરિવારો પ્રત્યે મારી સંવેદના વ્યક્ત કરું છું અને…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 18, 2024
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister`s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for each deceased, along with Rs 50,000 for the injured. The Gujarat Government also pledged Rs 4 lakhs for the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured.