A day after the tragic incident in Vadodara, where 14 lives were lost, the police have filed a case against 18 individuals in connection with the incident. On Friday, a social activist raised concerns about the lack of essential safety equipment, such as life jackets, and the absence of designated personnel for rescue operations.
Prominent social activist Atul Gamechi informed reporters that the boat, originally designed for 14 people, was overloaded with nearly double that number. Reports indicate that approximately 80 students from New Sunrise School were on a picnic, with some students participating in a boat trip while others engaged in different activities.
In response to the accident, the Gujarat government has initiated a high-level inquiry, directing the Vadodara district collector to submit a detailed report within 10 days.
Both President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed their grief over the tragedy. The Prime Minister's Office announced an assistance of INR 200,000 for the families of the deceased.
“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,” Expressing condolences on X (formerly Twitter), the PMO stated.
The state government also arrived at the accident site in the evening as rescue operations continued. Meanwhile, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge conveyed his condolences and urged the Gujarat government and administration to expedite relief and rescue operations.