A devastating boat mishap in Chhattisgarh’s turbulent Indravati River has left a community in mourning. A mother and her newborn perished when their vessel flipped, and 18 hours later, her husband and another child are yet to be found.
Wednesday’s evening disaster struck near Uspari Ghat in Bijapur’s Bhairamgarh region. The group of six from Bodga village had just shopped at the weekly haat and was heading home when ferocious waters upended the boat. Swift action by nearby villagers saved two, but the others were swept away.
Rescue was hampered by nightfall and the remote 80-km distance to Bijapur town. Dawn brought renewed efforts, uncovering the grim discovery of the mother’s body clutching her towel-tied baby—a poignant symbol of maternal sacrifice.
The missing pair includes the grieving father’s desperate hunt continues with teams deployed across multiple ghats. Health units are on standby, reflecting the area’s vulnerability.
Such tragedies are all too common in Bastar’s river-dependent hamlets, where lack of bridges forces risky boat travel. Residents’ calls for sturdy infrastructure and better safety protocols grow louder with each incident. Officials promise aid to victims’ kin as searches press on, but questions linger about long-term fixes.