Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav had a narrow escape in Hajipur, Bihar, when an inflatable boat carrying him to inspect flood-ravaged areas began losing air rapidly in the middle of the river. The incident occurred while Yadav was visiting the flood-affected Terasia region under his Raghopur assembly constituency. As the official State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) vessel deflated, panic ensued briefly before alert party workers managed to safely transfer Yadav to a nearby private boat, averting a major mishap.
Incident Near Mahatma Gandhi Setu
As part of his scheduled visit to assess the ground reality of flood relief efforts, Tejashwi Yadav boarded an SDRF inflatable boat provided by the local administration. The vessel launched from near Pillar No. 1 of the Mahatma Gandhi Setu and headed into the river toward the submerged villages. However, after covering only a short distance, the rubber boat began leaking air at an alarming rate. SDRF personnel on board attempted to use manual pumps to inflate the boat on the spot, but the air escaped immediately due to severe structural damage.
Transfer to Private Vessel and Distribution of Relief
Realizing that the government-provided boat was no longer safe and posed an immediate risk of capsizing, accompanying party workers quickly maneuvered a private wooden boat alongside the deflating vessel. Tejashwi Yadav was safely shifted onto the private boat, allowing him to resume his inspection tour of the inundated regions. He subsequently navigated through the affected localities to interact with displaced villagers and personally distributed essential food packets and emergency relief supplies.
Tejashwi Yadav Attacks State Government Over Administrative Failure
Following the inspection, Tejashwi Yadav launched a scathing attack on the state government and local administration regarding the quality of disaster management infrastructure. Pointing to the dilapidated condition of the SDRF vessel, he remarked that just as the air leaked from the boat, the claims and arrangements of the government had similarly deflated. He raised questions about public safety, stating that if the Leader of Opposition is provided with broken equipment, the plight of ordinary citizens during floods can well be imagined. Yadav further alleged that flood victims across the region are struggling without adequate food supplies, rescue boats, or administrative assistance.
