1 dead, 12 missing as boat capsizes in West Bengal

One person was killed and at least 12 others were missing after an overcrowded boat capsized in river Bhagirathi, sparking violent protest in Nadia district during which several boats were torched and police fired rubber bullets to control the mob.

The boat was ferrying at least 55 people, much above its capacity. They were returning from a fair at Kalna in Burdwan district to Shantipur in Nadia when the boat turned turtle on Saturday night, Nadia district magistrate Vijay Bharti said.

The body of a 35-year-old woman passenger was recovered from the river bed near Shantipur, Bharti said.

Burdwan Superintendent of Police Gaurab Sharma said many people swam to safety.

Burdwan district magistrate Saumitra Mohan said several teams, including rescuers from the Disaster Management Group, civil defence and private divers, besides two teams of National Disaster Response Force were pressed into service to find the missing.

“Over 150 rescue workers in multiple teams are employed in the search operation. Civic volunteers and private divers are also working,” the Burdwan DM said.

When asked about the alleged delay in rescue operations, Mohan said the water current, depth of the river and the muddy water was making the job of the divers “very difficult”.

“The river is very deep even at the jetty where the mishap happened. It’s around 70 feet deep there itself. It deepens further as you go inside. The water is muddy rendering the visibility poor and the river current made stronger by last night’s rain and thundershowers,” he said.

The DM said “overloading” was one of the suspected causes leading to the mishap.

“As per our initial reports, it appeared that the carrying capacity of the boat was around 45. But around 15-20 more people jumped onto the boat breaking the police cordon at the ghat... And the boat broke down the moment it started sailing and then capsized,” Mohan said.

Kalna Sub-Divisional Police Officer M Raghubangshi, who was on the boat with a couple of policemen to supervise the ferrying of people, fell into the water as the boat capsized.

“He and the policemen managed to swim to safety. They helped others on the boat to swim back to a safe place,” the DM said.

Though nobody was arrested in connection with the incident, a case has been lodged against the authorities for the ferry services on the ground of negligence, he said.

Meanwhile, alleging that the administration delayed in initiating the rescue operation, a group of people from Shantipur set afire several boats, trawlers and launches anchored on the river bank on Sunday, the police said. They also set on fire the office of the ferry-service and pelted stones at policemen injuring SI Mohammed Ilaish of Shantipur Police Station and another constable, they said.

The policemen fired teargas shells, rubber bullets to disperse the violent protesters, Nadia SP Sheesh Ram Jhajharia said when contacted.

“The situation is normal now ... It’s under control. Nobody is injured in police action,” Jhajharia said.

Image: A woman whose daughter is missing after the boat tragedy being consoled by neighbours, in Nadia district in West Bengal. Photograph: PTI