The melancholic voice of the Harini boat tragedy still echoes across Gujarat. Sarla Shinde is among the many parents who feel the pang of the accident that claimed 14 lives, including 12 children and two teachers, on January 18, 2024. Her daughter, Roshni, was one of the victims.
The overcrowded boat capsized during a school picnic, an incident that continues to raise questions about regulatory oversight and official accountability.
Since the tragedy, the affected families have waited for justice, but progress has felt slow and scattered. Frustration boiled over recently when Shinde and another grieving mother, Sandhya Nizama, attempted to confront Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel at a public event in Vadodara. Security personnel removed them from the site, dragging them out as though they were criminals. According to reports, the police later detained them for questioning.
Media outlets reported that the police treated the situation as a breach of protocol rather than an act of grief. Investigators, reports added, noted their call logs and asked them details such as how they learned of the event, what compelled them to attend it, and even specifics such as their clothing.
The Chief Minister did meet the women after the event, but the interaction reportedly offered little comfort. The emphasis, from the state’s side, remained on adherence to official procedure. The CM reiterated that legal processes were underway, but for the families, the reassurances rang hollow.
The situation also highlighted internal tensions within the ruling BJP. Police sources indicated a possible connection between the protest and factional differences within the party. There were suggestions that dissenting local leaders may have facilitated the women’s entry and helped them blend in with the crowd to avoid detection. The incident reportedly caused embarrassment within party ranks, and disciplinary action was expected.
Despite these political undercurrents, Shinde maintained that her decision to attend the event had been independent. She had learned about it through a local news report and had coordinated with Nizama to make their voices heard.
Meanwhile, legal proceedings related to the tragedy are ongoing. The Gujarat High Court had ordered the contractor, M/s Kotia Projects, to pay Rs 32 lakh in compensation per victim, split into four installments. However, according to the families’ legal representative, the first two installments, due in March and April, had not been paid as of now. While the full four-month period for compliance has not yet expired, the delay has only deepened the families’ mistrust.
The state SIT investigating the incident confirmed that 20 people had been arrested and charge sheets filed. Although several of the accused are currently out on bail, the government has opposed their discharge petitions and succeeded in keeping the trial moving forward. Officials stressed that the case is being fast-tracked and that the state is committed to ensuring due process.
Nevertheless, for the grieving families, justice continues to feel distant. Legal formalities may be unfolding, but the absence of accountability and empathy has left them with more questions than answers—and with little faith in the system that promised them closure.
