- Rescued children detail boat capsize caused by a hole.
- Survivors recount harrowing experience and how they were saved.
- Allegations of negligence surface regarding boat's dilapidated condition.
After 13 children died in a boat capsize incident in Bihar's Vaishali, four others who were successfully rescued narrated their frightening experience. One of the children said that there were 25 people on the boat when the tragedy unfolded. The NDRF and SDRF are engaged in the rescue operation. The deceased children belonged to three homes in Rampur Shyamchand village of Raghopur.
One of the rescued children, Ashwini Kumar, said that he was saved by his grandfather, and there were 25 people on board.
Another child, Aditya Kumar, revealed that there was a hole in the boat. He held a man's feet who saved him by holding him up on his shoulder.
"There was a small hole in the boat through which the water started seeping in. When the boat started going down, more water started coming in. Ultimately, it capsized. Those who could not get off the boat on time could not survive. I held on to the feet of a man; he hoisted me up on his shoulders. He called another man; he gave me a thick branch of a tree to hold on to. He then swam with me and brought me to the shore. That is how I survived," Aditya explained.
#WATCH | Bihar | Four children, who were rescued from the boat capsize incident in Raghopur Diara area of Vaishali district, recount the incident. "There were 25 people on the boat, including me. I was rescued by my grandfather," says Ashwini Kumar. "There was a small hole in the boat through which the water started seeping in. When the boat started going down, more water started coming in. Ultimately, it capsized. Those who could not get off the boat on time, could not survive. I held on to the feet of a man; he hoisted me up on his shoulders. He called another man, he gave me a thick branch of a tree to hold on to, he then swam with me and brought me to the shore. That is how I survived..," says Aditya Kumar. "There were around 20 people on the boat. Suddenly, it started capsizing. There was a hole in the boat. I jumped into the water before it entirely capsized. My grandfather saved me. Others with me drowned," says Abhiraj. "There was a hole in the boat. So, water started seeping in. One man tried to throw out the water but when we reached a little further, the water started coming in faster. Ultimately, the entire boat was filled with water. It then capsized..," says Ansh.
— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2026
Abhiraj, who was also rescued from the boat, said, "There were around 20 people on the boat. Suddenly, it started capsizing. There was a hole in the boat. I jumped into the water before it entirely capsized. My grandfather saved me. Others with me drowned," says Abhiraj.
Ansh also confirmed the presence of a hole in the boat. "There was a hole in the boat. So, water started seeping in. One man tried to throw out the water, but when we reached a little further, the water started coming in faster. Ultimately, the entire boat was filled with water. It then capsized," said Ansh.
Questions over negligence, lack of oxygen, ambulance
Earlier, a man who aided the rescue effort said that the boat was in dilapidated condition and that the Raghopur CO was informed about it, but no action was taken.
"The Circle Officer (CO) of Raghopur, Deepak Kumar, had previously been informed about the dilapidated condition of the boat, yet he took no action... That is why such a major tragedy occurred," said Ravi Yadav.
Following the accident, residents also alleged a lack of facilities at the hospital, including oxygen, doctors, and ambulances. These allegations have yet to be independently and officially confirmed.