At least seven members of a family, including five children, died on Saturday after a boat they were traveling in capsized in the Seep river in Madhya Pradesh’s Sheopur district, police said.
According to the police, out of the 11 people on the boat, four people were rescued safely while seven were unresponsive and later declared brought dead at a hospital. The incident took place at around 4.30 p.m. in Manpur police station area.
Superintendent of Police, Sheopur, Abhishek Anand told The Hindu that the five deceased children were aged between 4 and 15 years, while a 35-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman also died in the incident.
Rajeev Kumar Gupta, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDOP), Sheopur, told The Hindu that a family from Badouda area of the district had come to their relative’s place in Manpur and were crossing the river, a tributary of Chambal river, at a local boat to reach the relative’s farm which was on the other side.
“At around 4.30 p.m., there were fast winds which turned the boat over shortly before it was about to reach the river bank,” said Mr. Gupta.
Additional SP, Sheopur, Satendra Singh Tomar said that a rescue operation with teams of local police and the State Disaster Emergency Response Force (SDERF) was launched immediately.
He, however, said that low light and poor weather made the search operation difficult.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav took to X and said, “Sad news has been received about a boat capsized at Rameshwar Ghat in Sheopur-Chambal river. After the accident, the Collector and SP immediately reached the spot. Relief and rescue work is going on at a rapid pace.”
“On behalf of the government, instructions have been given to Minister Pradhuman Singh Tomar to reach the site of the incident. I pray to Baba Mahakal for everyone’s safety,” he wrote.
Published - June 01, 2024 07:40 pm IST
