- Wednesday, May 07, 2025
Some parents alleged that the children who took the boat ride were not given life jackets.
By: Shubham Ghosh
PARENTS of school students who were on an ill-fated boat that capsized in a lake in the western Indian state of Gujarat on Thursday (18) alleged that their children were not given life jackets, the BBC reported.
According to a report by India’s Mint, 16 people, including 14 students and two teachers — drowned during what was a school picnic. The boat overturned in a lake on the outskirts of the state’s Vadodara city, police said. Two dozen students and four teachers were taking the boat ride in the Harni lake when the tragedy took place. A search operation was underway to trace the victims. Those rescued were undergoing treatment in nearby hospital, authorities said.
Two persons were arrested in connection with the incident.
While the cause of the incident was not known immediately, eyewitnesses said the boat was carrying more people than its capacity of 14 passengers.
Read: Gujarat bridge collapse tragedy: Government-appointed probe body finds shocking details
The incident caused an outrage and many parents accused the authorities of risking their children’s lives by not abiding by safety norms. Some parents even alleged that they had no information about the children being taken for a boat ride and about the tragedy. One parent accused the government besides the school.
Read: Gujarat bridge collapse ‘will of God’, accused tells court; no proper maintenance, say cops
Harsh Sanghvi, a minister of the state, said only 10 students on the boat had a life jacket, the BBC report added.
A relative of one of the students who died told the Times of India daily that the school had told them that the students were being taken to a water park but they went to the lake instead. She also alleged that when she tried to contact the school authorities after the incident, she did not get any response, the BBC report added.
In October 2022, at least 135 people lost their lives after a pedestrian suspension bridge in Gujarat’s Morbi collapsed and it was alleged that massive corruption had led to the disaster.
The government of Gujarat sought an inquiry into the drowning incident and a report within 10 days.
According to local media reports, about 80 students from the school had gone on the picnic, and while some students were taking the boat ride, others were engaged in other activities.
Prime minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the incident in his home state and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh (1,899) from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the next of kin of each victim.
The injured would be given Rs 50,000 (475).
State chief minister Bhupendra Patel met the injured at the hospital where they were receiving treatment.
