21 labourers plunge into Ganga as boat carrying geobags capsizes in Bihar
A boat carrying 21 labourers capsized in the Ganga near the Raghopur embankment in Bihar's Bhagalpur district on Wednesday, leaving two workers missing. Nineteen labourers were rescued after the accident, officials said.
The workers were engaged in anti-erosion work on the Kajikoraiya-Raghopur embankment and were transporting white geobags used to strengthen the riverbank when the Water Resources Department (WRD) boat overturned at around 2.30 pm.
Boat overturns after river vortex forms
According to Bhagalpur District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey, a vortex suddenly formed in the river, causing the boat to lose balance and overturn.
“Of the 21 people on board, 19 have been rescued. The SDRF team is continuing the search operation to trace the remaining two labourers,” Pandey told news agency PTI.
The repair work was being carried out just two days after a breach had reportedly occurred at the same embankment.
Video shows boat tilting before capsizing
Footage of the incident circulating online shows the wooden boat heavily loaded with labourers and geobags battling the fast-moving waters of the Ganga.
नवगछिया के राघोपुर में फ्लड फाइटिंग कार्य के दौरान गंगा की तेज धारा में मजदूरों से भरी नाव पलटना बेहद दुखद है। 18 लोगों को सुरक्षित निकाल लिया गया, लेकिन दो लोग अभी भी लापता हैं। प्रशासन से दोनों की तलाश तेज करने और हरसंभव मदद सुनिश्चित करने की अपील है।#Bihar #Raghopur pic.twitter.com/wNOg139gX2
— Tariq Anwar (@itariqanwar) August 26, 2026
The vessel can be seen tilting sharply as waves spill over its sides. Moments later, it overturns completely, sending the workers into the river.
Around 20 labourers are then seen in the water, attempting to swim through the strong current.
FIR over alleged negligence
Pandey said there appeared to have been “negligence” in following the safety guidelines issued by the district administration.
An FIR will be registered against the contractor or vendor responsible for the operation, she said.
Authorities have also suspended the use of boats for transporting and dropping geobags along the embankment. Tractors are being used instead as officials review the safety arrangements.
Flood control work to continue
The WRD will decide the next course of action after receiving technical details and recommendations from the engineer-in-chief, Pandey said.
Meanwhile, engineers have been instructed to speed up flood-fighting and embankment repair work in the area.
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