Nine Children Killed After Boat Capsizes in India

AFP/APP

Ahmedabad: A school picnic turned tragic in western India on Thursday after a boat carrying students capsized in Gujarat’s Vadodara district, leaving at least 10 people dead, including nine children, as rescuers continued searching for those still missing.

The incident occurred while students were on a school-organised outing at a lake in the district. Authorities said around 27 people were believed to have been aboard the boat when it overturned.

Rescue teams, joined by local residents and officials, launched an urgent operation to locate survivors and recover those missing. The victims reportedly included children as young as 10, along with a teacher and a member of the rescue operation, according to AFP.

The exact cause of the boat’s capsizing remained unclear, while officials were yet to provide a complete account of the victims.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families of those killed and said authorities were providing assistance to those affected. He also wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

Boat accidents resulting in mass casualties are frequently reported on Indian waterways. In a separate incident last year, at least 22 people died after a double-decker tourist boat overturned in Kerala. Survivors had told local media that several passengers were not wearing life jackets.