A small village in the Bahraich district was plunged into grief on Wednesday evening after a routine journey home turned into an unthinkable tragedy.
A boat carrying 22 villagers — including men, women, and little children — capsized in the Kaudiyala river, leaving eight people, among them five children, feared drowned.
The body of one woman has already been recovered, as rescue efforts continue with urgency and prayer.
For the residents of Bharthapur village, crossing the river is not a luxury — it is a necessity. Isolated like a tiny island within the dense and remote Katarniya Ghat Wildlife Sanctuary, the village lies beyond easy roads or modern access.
To buy basic household supplies, visit the market, or even seek medical help, villagers must depend on boats and the mercy of the river that surrounds them.
On Wednesday, as dusk approached and the villagers were returning from the nearby market in Lakhimpur Kheri, the river — their lifeline — turned cruel.
Around 6:30 pm, with children snuggled against their parents after a long day, the boat neared home.
In the fading light and strong currents, it struck a tree lodged in the river and overturned in seconds. Panic, screams, and rushing water filled the air.
Thirteen passengers managed to survive — some were pulled out by desperate rescuers, others battled the waters and swam to safety.
But as night fell over the dense forest and the powerful river currents, eight souls — tiny lives full of dreams, men returning to their families, and a woman who never made it home — remained missing beneath the dark waters.
Local divers, battling fierce currents and fading visibility, have been searching tirelessly, joined by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
Communication lines are weak, pathways are rough, and rescuers navigate not just water but wilderness — a forest known for wild elephants and isolation.
Circle Officer Harshita Tiwari, who rushed to the site, shared that the terrain has made rescue efforts extremely challenging.
As families wait at the riverbank, numb with fear and grief, each minute feels like eternity — a cruel test of hope against despair.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken notice and directed officials to seek help from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), further intensifying the ongoing mission to bring the missing home, living, or lost.
A village waits. Mothers cry silently. Fathers search the water with trembling voices. Children call out for friends who may never answer again. The river that sustained them has taken more than waves — it has taken hearts, dreams, and peace.
Bharthapur doesn’t sleep. It mourns, it waits, and it prays for miracles.
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