In a shocking incident, 15 students and 2 teachers lost their lives after a capsized accident at Vadodara’s Harni Lake.

A total of 23 school students, who were 8–11 years old, went boating along with teachers on the evening of Jan 18. Notably, only 50% of them had life jackets.

Turning a blind eye to safety, the boat operator was accused of seating 20 to 25 people in a boat which had the capacity 10 to 12 people.

In August 2022, P V Murjhani, founder of the Jagrut Nagrik Organisation, had raised objections against starting a boating activity again at Vadodara’s Sursagar and Harni Lake.

Not learning from past mistakes

“We asked to change the rules of Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC), which said that in case of any accident, the contractor would be fully responsible for it,” said Murjhani.

In August 1993, a similar incident of boat capsizing occurred at Sursagar Lake, where a boat ride carried people over its capacity, killing 21.

“As the corporation has a partnership in the revenue from tickets, then the municipal commissioner, corporation officers, and standing committee are equally responsible in case of accidents,” he asserted.

He also stated that it is the sole responsibility of the corporation to verify arrangements for life jackets, expert swimmers, rescue boats, life rings, and other safety parameters at the boating site.

It is necessary to install CCTV cameras around the lake for surveillance.

“The corporation can’t get away with imposing all the allegations on the contractor; they are equally answerable,” said Murjhani.

An FIR has been filed against 18 people under IPC 304, 308, 337, 338, and 114, including M/S Kotiya Projects, for negligence and carelessness.

The FIR also included the names of contractors, boat operators, and boat drivers.

After the boat capsizing accident at Harni Lake, the investigation of the incident has been handed over to the district magistrate, and the state government has been ordered to submit a report within 10 days.

For more such updates and news on the go, follow us on Instagram | YouTube | Facebook