Union minister Chirag Paswan visited the families of 13 children who died in a boat tragedy in Vaishali district and met survivors receiving treatment in Patna on Wednesday, saying those responsible for the accident would face strict action.
The boat capsized on Tuesday night near Rampur in the Raghopur diara area of Vaishali district. Paswan, who travelled from Delhi, described the incident as “heartbreaking” and a case of “gross negligence”. He said the immediate priority after the accident had been to accelerate rescue operations and save as many lives as possible.
After meeting the victims’ families, Paswan visited NMCH in Patna, where people rescued from the capsized boat are undergoing treatment. He offered condolences to the families and said the government stood with them.
“If administrative negligence is found, the matter will be brought to the notice of the Bihar govt and the CM to ensure the strictest action against the officials concerned,” Paswan said. He also said measures would be taken to prevent similar incidents and improve emergency response systems.
The tragedy has placed the focus on safety and emergency preparedness in the diara region, where settlements and movement across riverine areas can depend on boats. The available report does not specify the number of people on board, the cause of the capsize, the condition of the vessel or whether any safety equipment was available.
Financial assistance was announced for the victims’ families and those injured. BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed grief and that Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund would be provided to the next of kin of each deceased person. He said each injured person would receive Rs 50,000.
Saraogi also said Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary had announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh for each family that lost a member in the tragedy. The report does not provide details on when the assistance will be disbursed or which agency will coordinate the payments.
The incident also triggered a political exchange. HAM(S) national president and state minister Santosh Kumar Suman criticised RJD working national president Tejashwi Prasad Yadav over a video message issued from Delhi after the tragedy. Suman questioned whether political issues should have been raised before condolences were offered. An RJD delegation later visited the village on Yadav’s instructions.
Paswan’s visit and statements came as authorities faced demands for accountability over the deaths and for stronger preventive measures. The next official steps are expected to include examination of possible administrative negligence, continued treatment of survivors and action on the announced compensation.
