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Thirteen children are dragged dead from India's Ganges after an overloaded boat capsizes en route to a Hindu festival

A boat on the water in Bihar, India, where a vessel capsized while carrying passengers to a festival, killing at least 13 people, all of them children aged 15 or younger.
A boat on the water in Bihar, India, where a vessel capsized while carrying passengers to a festival, killing at least 13 people, all of them children aged 15 or younger.

All 13 victims pulled from the Ganges in Bihar's Vaishali district were aged 15 or younger, with the boat carrying between 15 and 20 passengers when it overturned late Tuesday night in darkness. Villager Ravi Yadav, who joined the rescue effort, said locals used mobile phone lights and torches to find the bodies in the water. District magistrate Varsha Singh confirmed six people were rescued and referred to Nalanda Medical College and Hospital. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced compensation for bereaved families.

The overloaded boat was heading to a feast at the home of Singheshwar Rai near Mata Maharani Sthan in Bhagtan Tola when it sank.

'It was dark when we suddenly heard children screaming and crying for help,' said Ravi Yadav, who helped pull three children to safety.

'A few families have lost all their children,' one villager told reporters, as police investigate the cause of the capsize.

MoreThe IndependentMostly children among 13 killed as boat ​carrying passengers to feast capsizesSouth China Morning Post13 children die after overloaded boat capsizes in India - South China Morning PostNew Age BDAt least 13 children killed in India festival boat capsize - New Age BDThe SunAt least 13 children found dead after boat capsizes in India while heading to festival as search for survivors continues
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