Two more bodies found, Vrindavan boat tragedy toll 13; 3 from Punjab still missing

The deceased have been identified as Dinky Bansal from Dugri (Ludhiana) and Rishabh Sharma from Jagraon.

According to available information, the bodies floated to the surface of the river and were pulled into a boat. Later, family members identified the bodies.

Dinky was a final-year BA student, while Rishabh, a Class XII pass-out, helped his father in the business. Sources said the bodies had been shifted to a hospital in Vrindavan. The process to transport the bodies to Punjab had also begun, said the sources.

Three pilgrims from Punjab are still missing after the incident.

The bodies of 11 victims were consigned to the flames on Saturday. The incident occurred after a boat carrying pilgrims capsized in the Yamuna on Friday afternoon.

Rakesh Garg, a relative of Meenu Bansal (who also died in the tragedy), said her body was recovered immediately after the incident, whereas her daughter Dinky could not be traced. Divers and rescue teams carried out search operations for hours but to no avail. "This morning, we got a call from an official of the Vrindavan administration who informed us about the recovery of body of Dinky," added Garg.

Before the accident on Friday, devotees in the boat were seen chanting "Radhe, Radhe". Four videos of the devotees from Punjab, taken before the accident, have surfaced. The pilgrims could be seen singing hymns and the boat was packed beyond capacity. None of them was wearing life jackets. A young pilgrim, playing the cymbals, sang the hymn, "Nazar Sanware Lag Na Jaye Kahin", and a few minutes later their boat sank.

Minister demands high-level probe

Cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora visited the house of a boat tragedy victim in Ludhiana on Sunday. Mourning the death of pilgrims, Arora demanded strict action against the company or persons who were managing the operations of the boat. He urged the Uttar Pradesh Government to initiate a high-level inquiry and punish the guilty so that such incidents do not take place in the future.