Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh: Six bodies, including those of three children, were recovered on Wednesday after a boat carrying 15 people capsized in Matatila dam under Khaniyadhana police station limits, officials said. The search is ongoing for a missing 15-year-old girl named Kumkum.
The tragedy unfolded on Tuesday evening when the boat, reportedly small and wooden, was ferrying devotees to a temple located on an island in the dam. According to police, eight people were rescued with the help of villagers, while seven others went missing.
Rescue operations carried on through the night, with the bodies of Kanha (7), Shiva (8), Chayna (14), Ramdevi (35), Leela (40), and Sharda (55) recovered by Wednesday afternoon, said Pichhore SDOP Prashant Sharma.
A survivor, Ramdevi, recounted the harrowing experience, saying water began rushing into the boat from the bottom, causing it to tilt rapidly. “I don’t know how to swim. I just flailed my arms desperately until another boat arrived and pulled me to safety,” she told PTI.
Shivpuri District Collector Ravindra Kumar Chaudhary stated that while efforts were made overnight to locate the victims, the bodies were found the next day. He added that the administration would take measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
“People often visit the island temple to offer prayers, especially during the Holi and Rang Panchmi festivals,” Chaudhary said. The cause of the accident is believed to be either water entering the vessel or a sudden imbalance.
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced ₹2 lakh in financial aid for the families of the deceased. The villagers who played a role in rescuing eight people will be awarded, the collector said.
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