A passenger boat overturned in the Ganga near Raghopur, Vaishali district, Tuesday evening, killing 13 people, including a majority of children.
The vessel was reportedly carrying 15 to 20 passengers en route to a local banquet, according to witnesses; at least nine were children aged six to twelve.
The NDRF and local police were dispatched within an hour, and villagers helped pull bodies from the water; rescue teams remain combing the riverbank for missing persons.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced on X that the state would provide ₹4 lakh ex‑gratia to each victim’s family, citing the tragedy’s human cost.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted a ₹2 lakh ex‑gratia per family, while Opposition Leader Tejashwi Yadav urged authorities to expedite relief and safety measures.
Authorities are reviewing river transport regulations and will issue a directive to prevent future capsizes; rescue operations will continue until all bodies are recovered.