# Bihar boat capsize: 13 children killed as overloaded boat sinks in the Ganges on way to festival

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/world/bihar-boat-capsize-13-children-killed-as-overloaded-boat-sinks-in-the-ganges-on)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 14 Oct 2026
Updated: 14 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 14 Oct 2026

> The boat overturned late on Tuesday in Vaishali district. Six people were pulled out alive and Narendra Modi announced compensation for the families.

Thirteen children were killed when an overloaded boat capsized on the Ganges in India's eastern Bihar state late on Tuesday, 13 October, as families travelled to a Hindu festival, officials said on Wednesday. Dawn carried the report from AFP.

## What happened

The boat went down in Vaishali district. District magistrate Varsha Singh said 13 bodies had been recovered. Six people were pulled from the river alive, including two children who were in a critical condition.

Nirmal Kumar, a medic at the local health centre, said staff tried to revive those brought in, but 13 were already dead. Four children and two adults were taken to the district hospital.

Villager Ravi Yadav said he heard children screaming for help in the dark, and that rescuers used mobile phone lights and torches to pull three children out. Another villager, Ramlakhan Rai, said the boat was small and in poor condition and people had been crammed on board. He said a few families had lost all their children.

Officials have not said how many people were on the boat or whether anyone is still missing.

## Response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the loss "deeply painful" and announced compensation for the families. The amount was not given.

## A recurring danger

Boat accidents are common in India and are usually blamed on overcrowding, weak enforcement of safety rules and too little life-saving equipment on board. Festival seasons, when large numbers travel by river at night, are a time of particular risk.

## Safety on the water

The same risks exist on Pakistan's rivers and lakes, where small boats and ferries often carry more people than they should. If you or your family travel by boat, insist on life jackets, avoid crossings after dark and do not board a boat that is already full. Rescue 1122 is the emergency number in most of Pakistan.

## Frequently asked questions

**How many died in the Bihar boat capsize?**

Officials said 13 children died. Six people were rescued alive, including two children in critical condition.

**Why did the boat capsize?**

Villagers said the boat was small, in poor condition and crammed with people. Officials have not given a formal cause.

## Sources

- India festival boat capsize kills 13 children (Dawn (AFP)): https://www.dawn.com/news/2037093/india-festival-boat-capsize-kills-13-children

How to cite: "Bihar boat capsize: 13 children killed as overloaded boat sinks in the Ganges on way to festival", Searchable, 14 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/world/bihar-boat-capsize-13-children-killed-as-overloaded-boat-sinks-in-the-ganges-on