Three missing after boat capsizes near Mahatma Gandhi Setu in Patna amid Ganga floods

Patna, Sep 8 (IANS) At least three people went missing after a boat carrying around 10 passengers capsized in the floodwaters near Pillar No. 9 of the Mahatma Gandhi Setu in Bihar's Vaishali district on Tuesday, officials said. Seven others were rescued safely following the accident, officials added. The incident occurred in the Terasia Diyara area under the Gangabridge police station's jurisdiction. According to preliminary information, the boat was travelling from the Terasia Diyara side when it struck a boulder submerged in the floodwaters. The impact destabilised the boat, causing it to capsize. While some passengers managed to swim to safety, local residents rushed to the spot and joined rescue efforts. The incident drew large crowds to the Terasia Diyara and Mahatma Gandhi Setu areas as villagers assisted authorities in searching for the missing persons. Soon after receiving information about the accident, the district administration launched a large-scale rescue operation and deployed a team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Varsha Singh, District Magistrate of Vaishali, and Shubhank Mishra, Superintendent of Police, reached the site along with other officials to supervise the operation. Rescue teams continued combing the floodwaters amid strong currents late into the evening. Officials are also verifying the exact circumstances of the accident and the number of people who were onboard at the time of the mishap. The immediate focus remains on tracing the three missing individuals. The administration is continuing to monitor the situation in the Terasia Diyara-Mahatma Gandhi Setu area as the search operation remains underway. The accident comes amid worsening flood conditions in Vaishali, Patna and Saran districts, where the Ganga River is flowing above the danger mark. Rising water levels have inundated several low-lying areas, raising concerns among residents in flood-prone regions on both banks of the river. --IANS ajk/skp