In a tragic boat capsize in Mathura, at least 15 people were killed and another person is still missing days after the accident. As the search for the last person continues, a story of survival has spread on social media.
This is the story of Rajinder Kaur Banga, a 54-year-old Ludhiana resident, who survived the coup thanks to her Instagram algorithm.
How an Instagram reel saved her life
Banga was among those who got stuck in the waves of the Yamuna River when their boat capsized last week. Speaking to reporters in Punjab, the 54-year-old shared how she recalled a reel in which she shared tips on how to survive in the water.
“While we were struggling to survive, I remembered an Instagram clip in which tips were shared to escape drowning. I followed those tips – I did not open my mouth, kept my arms straight and moved my legs,” she told TOI.
In a video posted on social media, Banga also said that the tips included holding your breath, straightening the body, and moving your legs continuously.
Read also | Cheers fade into screams: Vrindavan boat tragedy shatters Ludhiana families
She added that her head hit the boat several times after it capsized, but she held on strong and made sure not to inhale any water due to panic.
The death toll rose to 15
The death toll in the Mathura boat tragedy rose to 15 on Monday, as search and rescue teams recovered two more bodies.
“One body found near Devraha Baba’s ashram has been identified as Yash Bhalla (23), while the other, recovered from Bengali Ghat, has been identified as Monica Tandon (25),” Chandra Prakash Rawat, Superintendent of Police (Rural), Mathura, told HT.
The incident took place on Friday at Keshi Ghat in Vrindavan. Most of the victims were residents of Ludhiana who had come to perform Umrah in UP.
Following the accident, which was said to have been caused by a collision with a pontoon bridge moved by a JCB, the district magistrate ordered an investigation into the accident.
