Bihar boat mishap: Video shows passengers crying for help moments before accident

Patna: As the death toll in the tragic boat accident at Patna ghat on Saturday rose to 24, dramatic footage, showing passengers of the ill-fated boat reaching out for help, has emerged.

The video, which appears to have been taken moments before the boat capsized, shows passengers waving their hands and calling for help, as some, desperate to escape the sinking ferry, jump into the river.

A few seconds into the video, the boat is seen giving way, sinking, leaving commuters struggling to stay afloat.

The incident occurred when people were returning from a kite-flying event, which was organised across the river by the state government’s tourism department on Makar Sankranti on Saturday.

Eyewitnesses told this newspaper that when the incident occurred in the evening, no police or security personnel was there to monitor the event. “The kite flying event was organised on the other side of the Ghat where there was very less security. The incident occurred when the overcrowded boat was about to reach the NIT Ghat,” an eyewitness said.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a probe into the incident and directed the officials to intensify search and rescue operations.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of those who were killed in the mishap.