Vrindavan boat tragedy:  At least 10 tourists lost their lives after a steamer carrying around 30 passengers capsized in the Yamuna in Vrindavan, Mathura, on Friday afternoon. The victims include six women and four men, all of whom had travelled from Punjab on a religious visit.

According to District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh, the incident occurred around 3 pm near Keshi Ghat, located about 2.5 km from the famous Banke Bihari Temple. Rescue operations were immediately launched, with teams from the Army and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) deployed at the site. A team from Ghaziabad also reached Vrindavan to assist in the ongoing efforts.

The police said the tourists were travelling in two steamers when one of them, carrying approximately 25 to 27 persons, overturned. So far, 10 bodies have been recovered, while 12 passengers have been rescued safely. However, between three to five persons are still reported missing.

Around 50 local divers have joined the rescue mission. The injured have been admitted to Ramakrishna Mission Hospital.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that strong winds may have contributed to the accident. A survivor from Ludhiana said the steamer began to lose balance mid-river due to high wind speed, which also caused the vessel to accelerate uncontrollably before it collided with a pontoon (floating) bridge and capsized.

Another passenger, who was also on board the ill-fated steamer, revealed that the group had arrived in Vrindavan in two buses, with around 130 persons in total. He claimed that passengers had warned the boat operator about the approaching bridge, but the warning was ignored. The steamer reportedly narrowly avoided collision twice before crashing into the bridge on the third attempt.

Officials are currently verifying the exact number of missing persons to determine whether they are still trapped or have managed to reach safety.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep grief over the incident. He extended condolences to the bereaved families and directed officials to ensure swift rescue operations and proper medical care for the injured.

PM Modi tweets

PM Narendra Modi tweeted, "Deeply pained by the mishap due to the capsizing of a boat in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. My condolences to those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The local administration is assisting those affected."