Boat capsizes in Bihar's Darbhanga: 3 women missing in Kosi River
Synopsis
A boat carrying farmers to harvest moong crops capsized in the Kosi River at Darbhanga's Tarwara Ghat on Wednesday, sweeping away three women — including a teenage girl. It is the second such capsize on the Kosi in two days, putting a sharp spotlight on the chronic danger of river crossings in Bihar's flood-prone heartland.
Key Takeaways
A boat carrying around 10 farmers capsized in the Kosi River near Tarwara Ghat, Darbhanga on Wednesday morning, 10 June .
Three women , including a teenage girl, were swept away and remain missing.
SDRF personnel Ravindra Kumar rescued 7 individuals from the river.
SDO Shashank Raj and SDPO Prabhakar Tiwari reached the site to supervise rescue operations.
A day earlier, a separate boat carrying 20 farmers capsized in the Kosi River in Saharsa district ; all were rescued safely.
The incident has reignited concerns about river-crossing safety in Bihar's flood-prone districts.
Three women, including a teenage girl, went missing on Wednesday morning after a boat carrying farmers capsized in the Kosi River near Tarwara Ghat in Darbhanga district, Bihar, while the group was en route to harvest moong (green gram) crops, officials said. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has launched an intensive search operation to trace the missing persons.
How the Incident Unfolded
Around 10 farmers, most of them women, were travelling together in a single boat to cross the river when the vessel lost its balance in the strong current. Eyewitnesses said the boat began taking in water due to the heavy flow and overturned shortly thereafter, triggering panic among the passengers.
SDRF personnel Ravindra Kumar, who was present at the site, managed to rescue 7 individuals and bring them to the riverbank. However, three female farmers, including a teenage girl, were swept away by the current and remain unaccounted for.
Official Response and Rescue Operations
Biraul Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Shashank Raj and SDPO Prabhakar Tiwari reached Tarwara Ghat to assess the situation and supervise rescue efforts after being informed of the accident. A large number of villagers also gathered along the riverbank.
'An SDRF team is searching for the missing persons following the report of the incident. Details regarding the event are being gathered, and further necessary action will be taken,' SDO Shashank Raj said.
A Pattern of River Accidents in Bihar
The capsizing has renewed concerns about the safety of river transportation in flood-prone districts of Bihar. Notably, just a day earlier, another boat carrying around 20 farmers capsized in the Kosi River in the Saharsa district. Fortunately, all passengers in that incident were rescued safely by local villagers.
The Kosi River, historically prone to sudden surges and strong currents, passes through some of Bihar's most agriculturally active districts, where farmers regularly rely on boats to access fields on the other side of the river — a practice that carries significant risk, particularly during high-flow periods.
What Happens Next
The SDRF team remains deployed at the site, and the local administration is continuing to gather details about the missing women. Further action, including a formal inquiry into the incident, is expected to follow. The incident is likely to intensify demands for safer river-crossing infrastructure in vulnerable districts of Bihar.
Point of View
Yet investment in safe, regulated ferry infrastructure has lagged for decades. The fact that farmers, most of them women, were crossing the Kosi in a single overloaded boat to reach their own fields underlines how little has changed on the ground despite repeated tragedies. Until the state treats river-crossing safety as infrastructure policy rather than a post-disaster response problem, these incidents will keep recurring every monsoon season.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at Tarwara Ghat in Darbhanga?
A boat carrying around 10 farmers capsized in the Kosi River near Tarwara Ghat in Darbhanga district, Bihar, on Wednesday morning, 10 June. The group was travelling to harvest moong crops when the vessel overturned in strong currents, leaving three women — including a teenage girl — missing.
How many people were rescued from the Darbhanga boat capsize?
Seven of the approximately 10 people onboard were rescued by SDRF personnel Ravindra Kumar, who was present at the site. Three female farmers, including a teenage girl, remain missing.
Which agencies are conducting the search operation?
The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been deployed to trace the missing women. Biraul SDO Shashank Raj and SDPO Prabhakar Tiwari are supervising the operation on the ground.
Is this an isolated incident on the Kosi River?
No. Just a day before this capsize, another boat carrying around 20 farmers overturned in the Kosi River in Bihar's Saharsa district. All passengers in that incident were rescued safely by local villagers, making this the second such accident on the same river in two days.
Why are boat accidents common in this region of Bihar?
The Kosi River runs through some of Bihar's most agriculturally active but flood-prone districts, where farmers routinely use boats to reach fields across the river. The river is known for strong and unpredictable currents, and the lack of formal, regulated ferry infrastructure makes crossings particularly hazardous.
