Chandigarh, April 10 A devotional journey to Mathura turned into an unimaginable tragedy for several families from Ludhiana and Jagraon after a boat carrying tourists, primarily from Punjab, capsized in the Yamuna River in Vrindavan on Friday, resulting in 10 deaths, 22 injuries, and five missing.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann spoke to his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath and assured him of full support.
According to an official statement, Mann is in constant communication with the Uttar Pradesh government regarding relief and rescue operations.
Most of the victims were from Jagraon and Dugri areas of Ludhiana, officials said, adding that a group of about 120 pilgrims from Jagraon's Shri Banke Bihari Club had departed for a four-day trip to Vrindavan on two buses on April 9.
"They had gone with great enthusiasm, and I was present to see them off on Thursday. They also asked me to accompany them, but I declined," former MLA S.R. Kaler told reporters in Jagroan.
A boat carrying tourists, primarily from Punjab, capsized in the Yamuna River in Vrindavan on Friday afternoon, resulting in 10 deaths, 22 injuries, and five missing, officials said.
The accident occurred near Kesi Ghat when the boat, carrying over two dozen tourists, moved into deeper waters and collided with a floating pontoon, they said.
Authorities noted that a pontoon bridge had recently been dismantled in the area due to rising water levels, leaving some pontoon drums in the river, one of which the boat is believed to have collided with.
Punjab CM Mann, in a post on X, said, "Today, a boat carrying residents of Jagraon city (Punjab) for darshan in Vrindavan capsized in the Yamuna River near Mathura while carrying 32 people... It is with great sorrow that I must inform you that some devotees have died due to drowning."
"I spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Ji... every possible assistance will be provided to the victims. I am in contact with the Uttar Pradesh government," he added.
The deceased have been identified as Kavita Rani (49), Charanjit (40), Sapna Hans (55), Rikesh Gulati, Madhur Behl, Asha Rani, Pinki Behl, Anju Gulati, Ishan Kataria, Minu Bansal, according to an official statement.
Those missing have been identified as Manik Tandon, Pankaj Malhotra, Rishab Sharma, Yash Bhalla, and Monika.
Among the 22 injured, Pinki, Manju, Savita, Tanish Jain, Rekha, Rajinder Kaur, Saroj, and Dolly are receiving treatment, while the condition of the others is stated to be stable, according to the statement.
Search operations are being conducted by police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire services, civil defence teams, the Army, and local divers, while the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are also expected to join the efforts soon, officials said.
Medical authorities at the Vrindavan Joint Hospital said that six men and four women were among the deceased.
In Ludhiana, Pawan Kumar Kataria told reporters that his grandson Ishan Kataria had left for Vrindavan on Thursday by bus.
He said that the entire group was in a cheerful mood when they left from Ludhiana, but he was unaware of the tragedy that was about to unfold.
Pawan Kumar said his grandson was 25 years old and unmarried.
A man from Jagraon survived the accident but lost two family members. Still in shock, he recalled while talking to his friend on the phone in Jagraon, how the group had gone to Vrindavan as part of a four-day trip which ended in the tragedy.
"Many in our neighbourhood had gone. They were in a happy mood. When we heard about the news today, it came as a shock. We tried to contact them over the phone, but there was no response," said a woman crying bitterly.
The Ludhiana administration has set up dedicated control rooms in Ludhiana and Jagraon – 01624223226 (SDM Jagraon office) and 01612403100 (Deputy Commissioner Office, Ludhiana).
Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said that authorities in Punjab are already in contact with their counterparts in Vrindavan, adding that most of the victims are from the Dugri and Jagraon areas in the district.
Jain said that special teams comprising both civil and police officers were dispatched to Vrindavan for better coordination among the authorities, and he is in constant contact with the Mathura Deputy Commissioner.
"The Ludhiana administration has announced that injured can avail free of cost treatment and they can contact on the helpline numbers which we have issued," he said, adding that many families whose kin have either died or have been injured have left for Mathura.
The administration is in contact with the families and has assured every possible assistance which is being facilitated in coordination with the UP authorities.
Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu also expressed shock and grief at the incident.
"Extremely shocked by the tragic news of the boat accident of devotees from Jagraon in Vrindavan. No words can heal the pain of losing a loved one on a spiritual journey," Bittu said in a post on X.
Bittu said that the administration is working tirelessly on-site for relief and rescue.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini termed the incident as extremely tragic and heart-wrenching.
"...My deepest condolences are with all the grieving families. At the same time, I pray for the swift recovery of the injured," Saini said.
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal and Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring also expressed their condolences.