📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Kg1729
Local
13 Children Die in Boat Tragedy at Raghopur, Vaishali Amid Alleged Administrative Negligence
✍️ Amar Ujala · Muzaffarpur
🗓 14 Oct 2026, 12:00 PM
👁 8
Thirteen children perished when a makeshift boat capsized in Rampar Shyamchand Panchayat, Raghopur, Vaishali district, prompting criticism of local authorities for ignoring earlier warnings.
A makeshift boat carrying school‑age children capsized in the Rampar Shyamchand Panchayat of Raghopur, Vaishali district, resulting in the deaths of 13 youngsters. The vessel, described by locals as a "jugaad" boat, sank shortly after setting off on a routine crossing, leaving families in shock.
Residents had previously lodged complaints about unsafe boats and the lack of any regulatory oversight in the area. According to villagers, these warnings were not acted upon by district officials, a lapse that is now being scrutinised.
In the aftermath, the Vaishali district administration announced an inquiry into the incident and summoned senior officials to explain the failure to address earlier grievances. The probe aims to determine accountability and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The tragedy has revived public demand for stricter enforcement of water‑transport safety norms across Bihar, with community leaders urging the state government to implement immediate safeguards for vulnerable commuters.
Residents had previously lodged complaints about unsafe boats and the lack of any regulatory oversight in the area. According to villagers, these warnings were not acted upon by district officials, a lapse that is now being scrutinised.
In the aftermath, the Vaishali district administration announced an inquiry into the incident and summoned senior officials to explain the failure to address earlier grievances. The probe aims to determine accountability and recommend measures to prevent a recurrence.
The tragedy has revived public demand for stricter enforcement of water‑transport safety norms across Bihar, with community leaders urging the state government to implement immediate safeguards for vulnerable commuters.