Tragedy Strikes: Seven Missing in MP Boat Incident, CM Offers Aid
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Synopsis
On March 19, Madhya Pradesh's CM, Dr Mohan Yadav, announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for families of victims in the Mata Tila dam boat tragedy. Seven individuals, including women and children, are feared dead after the boat capsized while en route to Siddh Baba temple during Holi festivities.
Key Takeaways
- Seven individuals feared dead in boat accident.
- CM announces Rs 2 lakh compensation for victims' families.
- Boat capsized while traveling to Siddh Baba temple.
- Eight out of fifteen individuals were rescued.
- Search efforts hindered by darkness and depth of the dam.
Bhopal, March 19 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr Mohan Yadav, has declared an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh for each family of the victims who tragically drowned in the Mata Tila dam located in Shivpuri district.
It is believed that all seven individuals who were reported missing as of Tuesday evening have perished.
In a heartfelt message shared on his X account, the Chief Minister expressed deep sorrow over the boat mishap in Shivpuri district.
This unfortunate incident occurred on Tuesday evening, where several devotees lost their lives in the village of Rajavan, Pichhor, under the jurisdiction of Khaniyadhana police station. The CM noted in his statement.
“These devotees were en route to the Siddh Baba temple near Matatila dam for a celebration linked to Faag. According to the latest updates, the Shivpuri district administration, along with disaster response teams and local residents, managed to rescue 8 out of 15 devotees safely,” the statement elaborated.
A total of seven individuals, including three women and four children, went missing when a boat carrying devotees capsized in the Mata Tila Dam situated in the Khaniyadhana police station area of Shivpuri district on Tuesday evening.
The incident took place between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m. when 15 residents from Rajavan village set out by boat to visit the Siddh Baba temple, located on an island in the center of the dam. They were there to partake in festivities associated with the Hindu celebration of ‘Faag’ (Holi).
As reported by police, the boat unexpectedly lost its balance and capsized during the journey. Many of those onboard began to drown. Local villagers acted quickly, rescuing eight individuals, but three women and four children remain unaccounted for.
A senior official informed IANS via phone that while it has not been officially confirmed, it is feared that they may not survive. There has been no sign of the missing people thus far due to the darkness, and the dam's reservoir is vast and deep. Initially, two boats and a team of expert divers were dispatched to locate the missing individuals. The site is situated 110 km from the district headquarters. The dam is built on the Betwa river in Uttar Pradesh, but it shares a border with Madhya Pradesh.
