At least 13 people, most of them children, were killed when a boat capsized in India's eastern state of Bihar, police said. Six people were rescued.
The boat overturned on Tuesday in the state's central district of Vaishali, while carrying passengers to a feast in a neighbouring village, district magistrate Varsha Singh told media.
Police are investigating the cause of the incident, regional police officer Subodh Kumar told Reuters on Wednesday, giving the tally of those rescued.
VIDEO | Vaishali, Bihar: Boat carrying 15–20 people capsizes in Ganga near Raghopur; Several feared dead. More details awaited.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 13, 2026
(Source: Third Party)#Bihar pic.twitter.com/ZMVLjjT9yV
India's prime minister Narendra Modi expressed grief at the tragedy, writing: "The loss of lives in the boat capsizing incident in Vaishali, Bihar, is deeply painful.”
He also announced compensation for the families of the victims.
"My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this difficult time," he said.
The Hindu newspaper quoted locals as saying that the feast had been organised at the home of a person named Singheshwar Rai, near the Mata Maharani Sthan in Bhagtan Tola and around 20 people were travelling on the boat.
Vaishali district magistrate Varsha Singh said the rescued people were referred to the Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH). The children on the boat were aged 15 or younger, the Hindu report said.
(With inputs from Reuters)
