Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced an ex gratia of Rs 4 lakh each for the kin of the people who died when a boat capsized in the Yamuna stretch in Banda district on Thursday evening.

The chief minister also instructed officials to provide immediate help and relief to the victims and their kin. Two ministers, Ramkesh Nishad and Rakesh Sachan, were also asked by Yogi Adityanath to reach the spot immediately and monitor the search operation.

Rescue teams on Friday morning resumed the search for the 17 people who are still missing.

As many as 13 have been rescued, ADG (Law & Order) Prashant Kumar said.

The boat was ferrying 30-40 people, along with motorcycles and bicycles, from Fatehpur to Marka village.

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) involved in the rescue operation have recovered the bodies of three victims so far, including two women and a child.

The victims have been identified as Phulwa, wife of Ram Prasad of Jrauli village in Fatehpur district, Rajendra of Ram Nagar Kohan, and Kishan, the 7-year-old son of Dinesh Kewat of Marka.

District Magistrate Anurag Patel said the administration was trying its best to rescue as many people as possible.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath expressed grief over the incident and offered condolences. The Prime Minister's Office said on Twitter in Hindi, “The accident in Yamuna river in Banda, Uttar Pradesh is heart-wrenching. I express my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in this mishap. The local administration under the supervision of the state government is actively engaged in relief and rescue work: PM.” 

Taking to Twitter on Thursday, Yogi said, “The loss of life in the boat accident in Yamuna river under Banda district is very sad and unfortunate. My condolences are with the bereaved families.”