The Gujarat police have taken six accused into custody in connection with the boat mishap incident near Vadodara where a boat capsized in Harni Lake, claiming the lives of 12 students and two teachers on Thursday. The arrested include three partners of Kotia Projects, a firm contracted by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) to operate Harni Lake Zone, a manager of the firm, and two boat operators, news agency PTI reported.
All six face charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, as revealed by Vadodara Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot, PTI reported.
The arrested individuals are identified as Bhimsingh Yadav, Vedprakash Yadav, Rashmikant Prajapati (partners of Kotia Projects), Shantilal Solanki (firm’s manager), and boat operators Nayan Gohil and Ankit Vasava, PTI reported citing the police.
“We have formed a special investigation team (SIT) in connection with the incident and to nab other culprits. Those guilty will not be spared,” Gehlot assured, as per PTI.
The seven-member SIT, led by Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic) Manoj Ninama, has been tasked with investigating the tragedy. Other members include Deputy Commissioner of Police Panna Momaya, DCP Yuvrajsinh Jadeja, and ACP HA Rathod, PTI’s report mentioned.
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Gujarat Boat Accident: FIR Filed Against 18, Charges Include Criminal Negligence
As per the report, the FIR filed by the police against 18 individuals, including the arrested, reveals the allegations of criminal negligence on the part of Kotia Projects. The complaint, filed by VMC engineer Rajesh Chauhan, accuses the firm of non-maintenance of boats, insufficient life-saving equipment, and failure to provide life jackets to all passengers.
Gujarat Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi on Thursday said that only 10 students on board were wearing life jackets, which proved the organisers were at fault.
Gujarat Education Minister Kuber Dindor expressed concern, stating, “I have also learnt students were not wearing life jackets at the time of the accident. We will take action against those found guilty (of these lapses).”
A preliminary investigation revealed that the boat, which had only 14 seats, was overloaded with more than 30 persons on board, PTI reported. The tragedy prompted the Vadodara Municipal Corporation to seal the lake area and restrict entry.
The state home department issued a notification directing the Vadodara collector to conduct a detailed inquiry into the incident’s reasons and circumstances. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the site and announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences stating, “Distressed by the loss of lives to a boat capsizing at the Harni lake in Vadodara. My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. May the injured recover soon.”
He further added, “The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.”