In a heartbreaking incident in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, a small boat capsized in the fast-flowing Indravati River, claiming the lives of a mother and her newborn baby. Over 18 hours after the tragedy, two individuals remain missing, keeping rescue teams on high alert.
The accident occurred on Wednesday evening in the Bhairamgarh area of Bastar division. Six villagers from Bodga village were returning from a weekly market across the river when strong currents overturned their boat near Uspari Jheel Ghat around 5 PM. Local residents rushed to help, managing to save two passengers who were brought back safely to shore.
Tragically, the mother and her infant could not be rescued in time. The woman’s husband and a child from the group are still unaccounted for, with search operations intensifying. Medical teams stand ready to provide aid to any survivors.
Darkness fell shortly after the mishap, delaying professional rescue efforts from the district headquarters, located 80 km away. Operations resumed at dawn on Thursday, leading to the recovery of the mother and baby’s bodies after an exhaustive 18-hour search. Heartbreakingly, the infant was found bound to its mother with a towel, a desperate attempt by the mother to protect her child amid the chaos.
This incident underscores the recurring dangers faced by remote communities reliant on river crossings. Annual boat accidents highlight the urgent need for bridges and improved rescue infrastructure in these isolated regions. Locals and officials have long demanded permanent solutions to prevent such losses.
Authorities continue scouring the riverbanks while extending support to the bereaved families. The search for the missing persists amid challenging terrain and unpredictable waters.
