Kota boat capsize: Bodies of all 4 missing youths recovered after 18-hour search
Synopsis
Four young men drowned in Rajasthan's Kotri canal after their boat capsized during Durga idol immersion in Kota — and their bodies were only found 18 hours later, nearly 100 metres downstream, after a six-boat overnight search had to be halted for darkness. The boatman reportedly fled the scene.
Key Takeaways
A boat capsized in the Kotri canal , Kota, Rajasthan , at around 5.30 pm on Tuesday during Durga idol immersion .
Seven people were swept away; three survived — Deepak , Man Kanwar , and boatman Suresh .
Bodies of Vikas Verma (22) , Suraj Singh (22) , Ashu Joshi (19) , and Rahul Joshi (18) were recovered Wednesday morning , around 100 metres downstream .
NDRF and SDRF deployed six rescue boats ; local fishermen also assisted in the search.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar visited the accident site.
The boatman reportedly fled after the capsize; post-mortem examinations are underway at MBS Hospital .
The bodies of four youths who went missing after a boat capsized in the Kotri canal in Rajasthan's Kota district were recovered on Wednesday morning, approximately 18 hours after the tragedy, officials confirmed. The victims were found around 100 metres downstream from the accident site.
How the Accident Unfolded
The incident occurred around 5.30 pm on Tuesday during the immersion of Durga idols — a festive ritual marking the conclusion of Navratri. Seven people were swept away when the boat capsized, but three individuals — including a woman and the boatman — managed to reach safety. Survivors have been identified as Deepak, Man Kanwar, and boatman Suresh. According to reports, the accident coincided with water being released into the canal that same day, raising questions about prior safety assessments at the site.
The Search and Recovery Operation
Rescue teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched operations immediately but were forced to suspend the search at 10.30 pm on Tuesday due to darkness, according to Additional SP Subhash Chandra Mishra. Teams resumed at 5.30 am on Wednesday.
A total of six rescue boats were deployed — three from the NDRF and three from the SDRF — as confirmed by SDRF in-charge Ekta Hada. The search was extended downstream towards Umaidganj, with local fishermen also joining efforts to locate the victims.
Victims Identified
The bodies of Vikas Verma, alias Suman (22), and Suraj Singh (22) were recovered first. Hours later, the bodies of Ashu Joshi (19) and Rahul Joshi (18) — who were cousins — were also retrieved. All four bodies were subsequently taken to MBS Hospital for post-mortem examinations.
Officials Respond at the Scene
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar visited the accident site following the incident. Senior administrative officials — including the Kota District Collector, City Superintendent of Police, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Additional District Magistrate, and Tehsildar — were also present. Reports indicated that the boatman fled the scene after the boat went down, a detail authorities are expected to investigate further.
What Happens Next
Post-mortem examinations are underway at MBS Hospital. Authorities are yet to formally announce the outcome of any inquiry into whether adequate safety measures were in place for the idol immersion procession, particularly given that water had reportedly been released into the canal on the same day.
Point of View
Yet pre-event safety audits at water bodies remain inconsistently enforced. The detail that water was released into the Kotri canal on the same day as the immersion is a serious operational failure that demands scrutiny — not just condolences. The boatman's reported flight from the scene adds a layer of accountability the investigation cannot sidestep. With senior political figures already at the site, the risk is that optics overtake a rigorous inquiry into who cleared the vessel and whether the canal's conditions were assessed before the procession was allowed to proceed.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Kota boat capsize incident?
A boat carrying people participating in Durga idol immersion capsized in the Kotri canal in Kota, Rajasthan, at around 5.30 pm on Tuesday. Seven people were swept away; three survived, and the bodies of all four missing youths were recovered the following morning.
Who are the victims of the Kota boat accident?
The four victims are Vikas Verma, alias Suman (22), Suraj Singh (22), Ashu Joshi (19), and Rahul Joshi (18). Ashu and Rahul were cousins. Their bodies were recovered from the Kotri canal approximately 100 metres downstream from the accident site.
Which rescue agencies were involved in the Kota canal search operation?
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) conducted the rescue operation, deploying six boats in total. Local fishermen also assisted in covering stretches of the canal downstream towards Umaidganj.
Why was the search suspended on Tuesday night?
The rescue operation was suspended at 10.30 pm on Tuesday due to darkness, according to Additional SP Subhash Chandra Mishra. Teams resumed at 5.30 am on Wednesday and recovered all four bodies within hours.
Did officials visit the Kota boat capsize site?
Yes, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar visited the accident site. The Kota District Collector, City Superintendent of Police, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Additional District Magistrate, and Tehsildar were also present at the scene.
