A boat carrying 21 labourers overturned in the Ganga River near the Raghopur embankment in Bihar's Bhagalpur district on Wednesday, leaving two workers missing. The labourers were involved in anti-erosion work and were transporting sandbags to strengthen the embankment when the incident occurred.
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched a rescue operation soon after the boat capsized and managed to bring 19 workers to safety. A search operation continued for the two missing labourers. District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey confirmed that the workers were engaged in rebuilding the Kajikoraiya-Raghopur embankment.
According to officials, a sudden vortex or change in the river's current caused the boat to lose balance and overturn. The boat belonged to the Water Resources Department and capsized at around 2.30 pm while labourers were carrying out embankment work. The repair operation had begun after a breach was reported at the same embankment two days earlier.
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Pandey also pointed to possible negligence in following safety guidelines issued by the district administration. She confirmed that an FIR would be registered against the contractor or vendor responsible for the work. Authorities are examining the circumstances surrounding the incident as rescue teams continue efforts to locate the two missing workers.
The administration has temporarily suspended the use of boats for dropping geobags along the embankment following the accident. Tractors are being used instead while officials assess the safety of the ongoing flood-control work. The Water Resources Department is expected to determine the next course of action after receiving technical details and recommendations from its engineer-in-chief.
The incident comes as authorities continue efforts to strengthen the embankment and prevent further erosion along the Ganga. Engineers have been instructed to accelerate flood-fighting measures while the administration reviews safety arrangements. The priority remains locating the two missing labourers and ensuring that further embankment work is carried out with appropriate precautions.
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