Kundan Krishnan

The Bihar administration has ordered inspections of private boats in Vaishali’s Raghopur area and withheld the salaries of the local Circle Officer and Station House Officer following a boat accident on the Ganga that killed 13 children. The tragedy has renewed questions about water transport safety, enforcement of operating restrictions and administrative accountability.

Bihar will resume sand mining at 212 river ghats from October 16 after the annual monsoon suspension. The reopening includes 181 yellow-sand ghats and 31 white-sand ghats, with the government expecting improved construction-material availability and continued growth in mining revenue.