3 dead after boat carrying family of 9 capsizes in UP amid heavy rain

A boat carrying nine family members capsized in the Yamuna in Hamirpur late on Wednesday, leaving six missing initially. Heavy rain has hampered the search, with officials so far recovering the bodies of a woman and a child.

In Short

• 3 bodies, woman and child, recovered so far
• Heavy rain hampering rescue operations
• Victims were returning after a wedding and fruit gathering

Three people, including a woman and two girls, have died after a boat carrying nine people capsized in the Yamuna river in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur district late Wednesday night. Three children are still missing, while rescue teams continue search operations at the site.

Officials said six people had gone missing after the boat overturned, while three people were rescued from the river.

According to officials, all the victims had attended a wedding ceremony at the house of Deshraj Nishad in the village. After the function, the group crossed the Yamuna river by boat to eat wood apple, cucumber and watermelon on the other side of the river.

Vishnu Nishad, along with his wife and seven children from the family, boarded the boat to return home after collecting watermelons and muskmelons. During the journey back, the boat lost balance in the middle of the river and capsized, throwing all nine occupants into the water.

Vishnu Nishad and one child managed to swim to safety, while local fishermen rescued another child. The remaining passengers went missing in the river.

Police and administrative officials rushed to the spot after receiving information about the accident and launched a rescue operation on a war footing. Teams from the district administration, NDRF and SDRF are carrying out rescue efforts, while divers are searching the river for the missing children.

Officials said three bodies have so far been recovered from the river, including those of a woman and two girls. Three children are still missing.

Authorities have appealed to people to stay away from the riverbanks as rescue operations continue amid difficult conditions.

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