At least 15 people, including 13 schoolchildren and two teachers, died after a boat they had boarded in the Lake Zone of the Harni Lake in Vadodara capsized on Thursday evening during a picnic organized by a private school.
According to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the boat had around 27 occupants at the time of the incident. While 19 children and four teachers, were pulled out and rushed to various hospitals, a search operation is currently on to look for four missing children.
Police Files FIR Against Accused
According to the police, an FIR has been lodged against five persons under IPC section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 308 (attempt to culpable homicide), and 337 (rash or negligent act endangering human life). According to VMC officials, the lake zone is run by the Kotia Projects under a Public Private Partnership with the civic body. Momaya further confirmed that an FIR has been lodged against M/s Kotia Projects, including its owner.
These People Died In Accident
The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Ayan Anees Gandhi (13), Roshni Shinde (10), Rutwi Shah (10), Jahabiya Mohammad Yunus Subedar (10), Sakina Sheikh, Muhiba Sheikh, Ayesha Kothari, V Nizama, Nancy Machchi and two other unidentified children — a boy and a girl. Two teachers — Falguni Patel and Chhaya Surti — both aged 45 have also been declared dead in Vadodara.
PM Modi Announces Compensation Of Vadodara’s Dead Ones
Meanwhile, a tweet from the official handle of the Prime Minister’s Office announced compensation for the deceased and the injured. “Distressed by the loss of lives due to a boat capsizing at the Harni lake in Vadodara. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. May the injured recover soon. The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased.
The CM and Sanghvi also visited a private hospital where the injured were rushed to. Later, he visited the SSG hospital along with Sanghvi, BJP leaders, the Mayor, and other party leaders.