Mathura, April 11 (NationPress) On Friday, a tragic incident occurred in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district, where a boat filled with devotees capsized, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 individuals and leaving many injured. As of Saturday, a search operation is actively ongoing to locate five individuals who remain unaccounted for, according to police reports.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), Agra, Shailesh Kumar Pandey, informed the media that, "Since the occurrence of this incident, relentless search and rescue efforts have been initiated, involving teams from the NDRF, SDRF, local law enforcement, fire services, local divers, and boatmen, alongside district administration personnel."

"Five individuals are currently missing from the group, and it is possible that some may have drowned. We are diligently conducting search operations to locate them," the DIG elaborated.

He indicated that a significant hurdle was the recovery of the overturned boat, which was lodged deep in a muddy area. "Over the past four hours, we have been striving to dislodge and retrieve the boat to ensure that if anyone is trapped beneath it, they can be rescued," he stated.

DIG Pandey confirmed that the capsized vessel has now been successfully retrieved from the site.

"The boat has been recovered from the accident location. No bodies have been discovered on or beneath the boat. We will persist with our search efforts and aim to locate the missing individuals as soon as possible," he reported.

Regarding the individuals who sustained injuries and are receiving medical care, he stated that all are currently out of danger.

Additionally, the DIG emphasized that a thorough analysis of the incident will be conducted to identify deficiencies and enhance safety protocols.

"Furthermore, stringent legal measures will be taken against those who have disregarded safety regulations and protocols," he added.

In the meantime, Congress MP Manish Tewari expressed his condolences to the victims and their families, stating, "This is a profoundly tragic incident that warrants investigation. My heartfelt condolences go out to the families affected by this tragedy."

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed profound sorrow over the event, stating he felt “deeply pained” by the tragedy. He extended his sympathies to the grieving families, saying, “I offer my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I am praying for the swift recovery of the injured, and I assure that the local administration is providing assistance to those affected.”