11 drown as boats capsize during Ganesh idol immersion in Bhopal

Eleven drowned as boats capsize during Ganesh idol immersion in Bhopal
Rescue efforts underway in Bhopal after a boat capsized during Ganesh Idol immersion ceremony. Photo: PTI

Bhopal: Eleven people drowned when two boats carrying them capsized during Ganesh idol immersion in Lower Lake of Bhopal, a senior police official said on Friday.

A total of 17 people were going on two separate boats for the immersion of the Ganesh idol at Khatlapura ghat when the incident took place on the banks of the Lower Lake at around 4:30am, officials informed.

Initially, the first boat tilted and when the people on the other one saw it, they tried to save it, but to no avail. In the process, the other boat also tilted sideways and both capsized. Six were rescued.

Eleven drowned as boats capsize during Ganesh idol immersion in Bhopal
Photo: PTI

Teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), local police, and citizens were also involved in the rescue effort.

Eleven drowned as boats capsize during Ganesh idol immersion in Bhopal
Photo: PTI

A magisterial probe has been ordered into the incident. An ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh, including an immediate relief of Rs 50,000, was announced by the collector for the kin of the deceased.

(With inputs from PTI)

Eleven drowned as boats capsize during Ganesh idol immersion in Bhopal
Photo: PTI
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