Thirteen children die in boat capsizing on the Ganges river

On the evening of Tuesday, October 13, 2026, a tragic boating accident occurred on the Ganges River in the Vaishali district of Bihar state, eastern India. A boat carrying a group of children, all aged under 15, capsized while they were traveling to attend a local festival. Indian authorities have confirmed that 13 children lost their lives in the disaster.

Local official Varsha Singh reported the incident, and police spokesperson Subodh Kumar confirmed to Reuters that rescue teams successfully saved six people from the water. Despite these efforts, search and rescue operations are ongoing, as the total number of passengers originally on board the vessel remains unconfirmed, leading to uncertainty regarding the final casualty toll.

Following the tragedy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep sorrow on the social media platform X. He extended his condolences to the grieving families and wished for the recovery of the survivors. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the investigation into the exact circumstances of the vessel's capsizing proceeds.