How a ‘bridge-like structure’ collision capsized Mathura boat, leaving 10 dead

MATHURA: A boat carrying 37 pilgrims mostly from Punjab’s Ludhiana collided with a pontoon bridge and capsized in Yamuna river near Keshighat in Mathura district on Friday, leaving 10 dead, including seven women, and at least five missing. Twenty-two people have been rescued so far and search operation is on to trace the others, police said.The incident took place between 3 and 3.30pm in Vrindavan under Maant police limits when the pilgrims were on a visit to religious sites in Mathura-Vrindavan area. They had arrived on April 9. According to local residents, the group of devotees boarded the motorised boat at the iconic Keshighat for a river ride. Shortly after setting off, the boat lost balance, throwing all passengers into the water. Eyewitnesses said chaos broke out at the ghat as people screamed for help.Tanish Jain, a survivor, said, “Our boat hit a bridge-like structure and overturned. Local boat operators came to our rescue. Most of us are from Ludhiana.”Rescue teams, including police teams and disaster response units, soon arrived. A fire service team, divers and boatmen along with NDRF and SDRF teams were also pressed into action. A senior colonel said that an Army team was called in too.Mathura district magistrate CP Singh told TOI, “A large group of 132 people had come from Ludhiana to Mathura for ‘darshan’ in two buses. A few of them from that group came here. Those who have been rescued, 22 of them, are out of danger. The CM has directed us to launch a probe and take action against those guilty. Medicine or treatment should be provided free of cost.”Meanwhile, in a post on X, the PMO quoted PM Narendra Modi as saying, “Deeply pained by the mishap due to the capsizing of a boat in Mathura. My condolences to those who have lost their near and dear ones. Local administration is assisting those affected.”CM Yogi Adityanath has also expressed condolences and instructed authorities to provide appropriate compensation.