Jagraon, April 11 Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Saturday that the boat that capsized in Vrindavan was carrying more people than its capacity, without any life jackets, highlighting the lack of safety measures that led to the accident.
Mann also confirmed that another body was recovered from the river, taking the death toll in the accident that occurred on Friday to 11, while four people were still missing. Twenty-two pilgrims were safely rescued from the Yamuna by rescue personnel in Mathura.
He said his government would talk to the UP administration so that such incidents do not happen again.
"Millions of people visit there. Such incidents should not happen again. We will certainly discuss this with them," the chief minister said.
Mann expressed grief with the families of the victims, most of whom were pilgrims from Jagraon and Dugri areas of Ludhiana district in Punjab.
"Eleven bodies have been found and four are still missing," Mann said. A team of divers was making efforts to find the missing people, he said.
The body of Manik Tandon, who was among the five who were missing, has been found, Mann told reporters after attending the cremation of victims from Jagraon. He also visited the residences of the victims in Jagraon and expressed condolences to their families.
When asked about reported negligence by the boat operators, Mann said the boat was carrying 32 people against a capacity of 15-16. "There were no life jackets. It is a matter of investigation," he said.
"There seems to be a lack of people's safety somewhere or other," Mann said.
Emphasizing accountability and prevention, Mann stressed that the safety and security of pilgrims at religious sites must be ensured at all costs and said he would take up the matter with the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to strengthen safeguards and prevent such tragedies in the future.
Mann said Punjab has already dispatched teams of divers to assist in rescue efforts, while maintaining close coordination with the Uttar Pradesh government.
"Deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives in the unfortunate incident near Mathura. My heartfelt condolences are with the families who have lost their loved ones in this tragedy. The victims were on their way to offer prayers at Vrindavan when the boat carrying them capsized in the Yamuna river."
"Necessary medical treatment is being provided to those who have survived the tragedy. I am in constant touch with my counterpart in Uttar Pradesh and closely monitoring the ongoing rescue and relief operations," he said.
According to officials, the victims were part of a group of about 120 pilgrims who had left for a four-day trip to Vrindavan in two buses on April 9. Authorities in UP have arrested the operator of the ill-fated vessel on Saturday.
