At least 12 dead after boat accident in India

At least 10 pupils and two teachers are thought to have drowned in western India, after a boat ferrying them to a school picnic capsized on Thursday.

Speaking to BBC Gujarati, Vadodara City Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot confirmed the number of deaths and said a rescue operation is still ongoing.

The cause of the incident, which happened on Harni Lake in Vadodara, in the state of Gujarat, is not yet known. Around 27 people were aboard the boat, according to local authorities. Local police told the BBC as many as seven people have been rescued from the water.

Police Commissioner Gehlot added that the rescued children are undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital. He also said the victims had not been provided life jackets during the boat ride.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said “My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief”.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the state government would give 400,000 rupees ($4,800; £3,800) to the families of the deceased and 50,000 rupees ($600; £475) to the families of those injured in the accident.

Boat accidents are not uncommon in India, where vessels are often overcrowded, poorly maintained and lack safety equipment.

Last year, 22 people died after a boat capsized in India’s Southern Kerala State.