Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and Leader of the Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, has strongly criticized the state administration and government authorities over the recent boat disaster in Raghopur. In a public statement, Yadav accused officials of sluggish rescue responses, noting that emergency services failed to act promptly and that ambulances and medical facilities suffered from critical shortages of oxygen and necessary supplies.
Sharing details from his interactions with the grieving families, the opposition leader claimed that at least five to six children lost their lives due to a lack of proper medical care and available oxygen. He stated that local residents and swimmers managed to pull victims from the water long before official emergency responders arrived, alleging that State Disaster Response Force personnel took roughly three hours to reach the scene and subsequently wasted more time maneuvering their vessels.
According to Yadav, multiple children who were initially pulled alive from the water could have survived if they had received timely medical assistance. He alleged that ambulances arrived late without adequate oxygen and that destination hospitals lacked proper treatment facilities, medicines, and oxygen supplies. These specific claims regarding the exact causes of the children's deaths have not yet been independently verified.
Directly addressing the state leadership, Yadav urged Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and the health minister to visit the victims' families, listen to their grievances, and offer direct explanations regarding the alleged medical failures. He also criticized the administration's proposed financial compensation of four lakh rupees, arguing that monetary payouts do not absolve the government of its duties regarding public safety and healthcare accountability.
In addition to calling for strict accountability regarding the rescue and medical lapses, Yadav demanded that the government grant at least three decimals of land to every bereaved family. He concluded by pressing authorities to overhaul emergency medical infrastructure, ensure reliable ambulance services, and maintain adequate supplies of oxygen and medicines in hospitals to prevent future tragedies.