Four feared dead after boat capsizes during Durga idol immersion in Kota

A tragic incident unfolded in Kota, Rajasthan on Wednesday when a boat capsized in the Kotdi canal during the immersion of a Durga idol, a key ritual marking the conclusion of the Durga Puja festival. Four youths are feared to have drowned in the incident, officials said.

The boat, which was carrying devotees participating in the idol immersion procession, overturned without warning in the canal waters. The exact cause of the capsizing remains unclear, though rescue teams have begun operations to recover the missing individuals.

Local authorities have launched a search and rescue operation in the canal, deploying divers and rescue personnel to locate the four missing youths. The operation is ongoing, with teams combing the waters in hopes of finding survivors.

The Durga idol immersion ceremony is a significant ritual in Hindu tradition, typically drawing large numbers of devotees to water bodies. The incident highlights safety concerns during such mass gatherings and water-based rituals. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the missing individuals or provided further details about the circumstances leading to the boat's capsize.