Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Leader of the Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, has levelled serious allegations against Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary's government and the administration over the Raghopur boat tragedy.
He has alleged delays in rescue operations, a lack of oxygen in ambulances and inadequate treatment facilities at hospitals, claiming that oxygen shortages led to the deaths of at least five to six children.
In a social media post, Tejashwi questioned the administration's response to the incident and demanded accountability for the alleged lapses in rescue and medical care. He also called on Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and the state health minister to meet the affected families and demanded that the government provide at least three decimals of land to each bereaved family.
The allegations, including the claimed causes of the children's deaths, have not been independently verified.
Tejashwi began his post with the remark, "They say the smaller the measure of a shroud, the heavier the burden of the body." He said his meetings with families affected by the Raghopur tragedy had brought to light several instances of alleged administrative negligence and indifference.
Tejashwi alleged that the administration failed to take the incident seriously despite receiving information about it. He claimed that a team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) reached the spot nearly three hours after the incident.
According to him, local residents had already pulled all the victims out of the water by the time the rescue team arrived. He further alleged that the rescue personnel spent several hours manoeuvring their boat after reaching the location.
The RJD leader questioned the administration's handling of the rescue operation and said the response raised serious concerns about the preparedness of the authorities during emergencies.
Tejashwi also criticised the state health department's response, alleging that several children rescued by villagers and local swimmers remained alive for hours and could have been saved with timely medical intervention.
He claimed that ambulances arrived late and lacked oxygen. He further alleged that the hospitals where the children were taken did not have adequate oxygen, medicines or proper treatment facilities.
According to Tejashwi, at least five to six children died because of the alleged oxygen shortage. However, the claim about the cause of their deaths has not been independently confirmed.
He held the government responsible for addressing the alleged gaps in emergency medical services and demanded that the health minister explain how the children died amid claims of shortages of oxygen, medicines and adequate treatment.
Tejashwi also accused the health minister of focusing on paid public relations activities instead of addressing public-interest issues.
Tejashwi questioned the government's proposed compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the affected families, arguing that the administration should not consider its responsibility fulfilled by providing the amount.
He alleged that government negligence and deficiencies in the healthcare system had contributed to the loss of children's lives and demanded additional support for the bereaved families.
The RJD leader urged Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary to visit the affected families immediately, listen to their concerns and assess their situation. He also asked the health minister to meet the families and respond to their questions about the alleged lack of oxygen, medicines and proper treatment.
Tejashwi demanded that the government provide at least three decimals of land to every family that lost a child in the tragedy.
Tejashwi called for stronger administrative arrangements to prevent similar incidents in the future. He demanded timely ambulance services and adequate supplies of oxygen and medicines, along with proper treatment facilities at hospitals.
He also urged the government to determine accountability for the alleged lapses in rescue operations and medical care following the tragedy.
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