10 Jagraon pilgrims feared dead, missing after boat capsizes in Yamuna
By Deepak Jain
Jagraon/Vrindavan, April 10: A heartbreaking tragedy struck pilgrims from Jagraon on Friday afternoon when a boat carrying devotees capsized in the Yamuna River near Keshi Ghat in Vrindavan, leaving around 10 pilgrims from Jagraon dead so far.
According to initial reports, the group had travelled from Jagraon on a religious pilgrimage to Vrindavan. After offering prayers at the famous Banke Bihari Temple, the devotees boarded a motorboat around 2:30 pm to visit other temples across the river. However, the boat reportedly lost balance midstream and overturned, throwing passengers into the deep waters.
Rescue operations were launched immediately, with nearly 100 divers deployed at the site. So far, around 10 to 12 pilgrims have been pulled out, many of them unconscious and rushed for medical treatment. Several others are still feared missing, and search efforts are underway on a war footing.
Some bodies have reportedly been recovered, though officials are yet to confirm the exact number of casualties. The victims were part of a Jatha organised by a local religious group from Jagraon, which had left for a four-day pilgrimage a day earlier.
The incident has triggered panic and grief in Jagraon, with families anxiously awaiting updates about their loved ones. Local residents in Vrindavan are also assisting authorities in rescue efforts, while officials continue to monitor the situation closely.