Why 21 Workers On Flood Work Sunk in Ganga: Two Missing After Boat Capsizes in Bhagalpur

A boat carrying 21 labourers engaged in anti-erosion operations along the Ganga River capsized near Raghopur block in Bihar's Bhagalpur district on Wednesday, leaving two workers missing while 19 others were pulled to safety.

The vessel overturned in the Naugachia sub-division while transporting crew members from Ghogha, Ismailpur, and Parbatta for emergency embankment work. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel, backed by local divers, launched a rescue operation using motorboats to scour the river current.

Safety Breaches Trigger Legal Action Against Contractors

District Magistrate Alankrita Pandey confirmed that while 19 labourers were safely rescued, search teams continue to look for the two missing men, identified as Sikandar Mandal and Badal Mandal.

Inspecting the site, Pandey ordered the Water Resources Department to file a formal case against contractor Rajkumar Singh and associated vendors for gross violation of safety norms. Administration officials revealed that mandatory orders requiring labourers on boats to wear life jackets were ignored.

"Directives were clear regarding life jackets for every worker on the water," Pandey stated, holding the contractor accountable for the lapse.

Ban on Boats for Material Transport

Following the accident, the district administration banned using boats to transport construction materials for flood-control operations. Moving forward, workers must use tractors to haul geo-bags to erosion-prone riverbanks.

The authorities also banned anyone under 18 from working on hazardous anti-erosion sites. With the Ganga hovering near the danger mark, site engineers have been ordered to speed up protective works while enforcing safety measures for all ground staff.