Mathura: 10 tourists dead as steamer capsizes in Yamuna
Mathura: At least 10 tourists, including six women, died and several others remained missing after a steamer carrying pilgrims from Punjab capsized in the Yamuna River near Kesi Ghat in Vrindavan on Friday afternoon, triggering a large-scale rescue operation and raising concerns that the toll could rise further.
The incident occurred around 2:45 pm, about 2.5 km from the Banke Bihari temple, when the vessel, carrying between 30 and 32 passengers, reportedly lost balance midstream. Officials said the tourists were part of a larger group of around 150 pilgrims from Ludhiana and Muktsar districts who had travelled to Vrindavan for darshan.
Mathura District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh confirmed that 10 bodies had been recovered. Earlier, authorities had reported six deaths, with four more victims found later during search efforts. Medical officials at Vrindavan Joint Hospital said the deceased included six men and four women. While 16 to 17 passengers were rescued safely, three to four people were still unaccounted for, though initial reports suggested that more than 10 could be missing.
Eyewitness accounts pointed to strong winds as a key factor behind the accident. Manohar Lal, a tourist from Jagraon, said the boat began swaying due to high wind speed before going out of control. Weather data from private forecaster Skymet indicated wind speeds of around 31 km per hour at the time, contributing to turbulent river conditions.
According to officials, the vessel may have collided with a floating pontoon drum left behind after a temporary pontoon bridge in the area was dismantled due to rising water levels. The impact is believed to have caused the steamer to overturn. Some witnesses also said the boat struck part of the pontoon structure before capsizing.
Rescue operations were launched immediately, involving personnel from the State Disaster Response Force, fire services, civil defence teams, police and local authorities. Around 50 local divers joined the search, with one diver, identified as Gulab, stating that nearly 15 people had been pulled from the river, some in critical condition. National Disaster Response Force teams were also being mobilised to assist.
Senior officials, including the district magistrate, superintendent of police and other administrative and police officers, remained at the site to oversee ongoing efforts. Additional Director General of Police Anupam Kulshreshtha and other senior officials were also present to coordinate operations.
Authorities are also investigating reports of another boat possibly missing in the area. The exact number of passengers onboard the ill-fated vessel is still being verified.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the loss of lives, calling the incident deeply distressing. He conveyed condolences to the families of the victims and instructed officials to expedite rescue efforts and ensure proper medical care for the injured.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann spoke with Adityanath and assured that all necessary assistance would be extended to the affected families. He confirmed that many of those onboard were from Jagraon.
Meanwhile, the Ludhiana administration set up dedicated control rooms to assist families seeking information and dispatched special teams of civil and police officials to Vrindavan to support relief operations.
