Two boats collided head-on in the Alaknanda river near Dhari Devi, a famous religious place in Uttarakhand. It is fortunate that no one was injured in this accident and a major accident was averted. After the incident, there was an atmosphere of chaos on the river bank for some time.
According to eyewitnesses, the collision was very fast. After the collision, a boat went out of control and started spinning in circles in the middle of the river. For a few moments it seemed as if the boat might capsize, but the driver and the people on board maintained their composure. Meanwhile, sensing the situation, the driver of the accident boat immediately jumped into the river and swam out safely.
Immediately after the accident, another boat present nearby started relief and rescue operations. Local people and other boat drivers present at the spot together took the passengers to a safe place. Due to his alertness and prompt action the situation was soon brought under control.
According to preliminary information, the fast flow of Alaknanda river and lack of coordination during boat operation are considered to be the main reasons for this collision. It is being told that the flow of water in the river at that time was more than normal, due to which it became challenging to control the boats.
After the incident, local people have demanded the administration to implement strict safety standards for boats operating in the river. Besides, emphasis is also being laid on training of boat drivers, making life jackets mandatory and increasing regular monitoring.
A large number of devotees and tourists reach Dhari Devi area. In such a situation, such incidents underline the need to review the security system. At present all the passengers are safe and the administration has started investigating the matter.