AGRA/Ludhiana, April 11 -- At least 10 people died and several others were reported missing on Friday after a boat ferrying tourists, mostly from Ludhiana and Jagraon, capsized in the Yamuna in Vrindavan, officials familiar with the matter said. President Droupadi Murmu, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath condoled the deaths. According to officials, the accident took place around 3 pm near Keshi Ghat where a boat, carrying approximately 30 passengers, reportedly lost balance after colliding with a floating pontoon drum. Deputy inspector general of police (Agra Range) Shailesh Pandey confirmed the fatalities, stating, "A group of nearly 30 tourists from Ludhiana had hired two boats at Keshi Ghat. Prima facie, it appears that one of them lost balance after colliding with a pontoon on the river. However, the exact reason will be ascertained after proper investigation," he said. An official familiar with the matter said a pontoon bridge had recently been dismantled due to rising water levels, but some drums remained in the river. "It is believed the collision with one of these submerged objects caused the boat to lose balance and overturn," the official added. A massive rescue operation is underway involving over 100 personnel from the NDRF, SDRF, local police and the fire department. The army station in Mathura has also been called in to assist. While more than 15 people have been rescued and transported to Ram Krishna Mission Hospital, the search for those still missing remains the top priority. DIG Pandey said, "We have deployed divers.Teams from fire, police departments and administration are on the spot with boats to search those reported missing." Condoling the deaths, Murmu said in a post on X in Hindi: "The news of the deaths of several people in a boat accident in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, is extremely sad. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the swift recovery of those who have been injured." Mann, too, expressed grief in a post on X. "I spoke with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Ji... every possible assistance will be provided to the victims. I am in contact with the Uttar Pradesh government..." In a post on X, Adityanath said: "The loss of lives in the boat capsizing accident in Mathura district is extremely tragic and heart-rending... Instructions have been issued to the concerned officials to immediately reach the site, conduct rescue and relief operations, and ensure proper treatment for the injured..." He instructed that appropriate compensation be provided to the families of the deceased as per norms. Union minister of state for railways Ravneet Singh Bittu also expressed shock and grief at the incident. "Extremely shocked by the tragic news of the boat accident of devotees from Jagraon in Vrindavan. No words can heal the pain of losing a loved one on a spiritual journey," Bittu said in a post on X. Survivors highlighted a harrowing sequence of events and alleged safety lapses. Vijay Bahl, a resident of Ludhiana's Jagraon who lost his wife and son in the mishap, narrated that around 120 devotees had travelled to Vrindavan as part of a four-day religious trip organised by the Banke Bihari Club. On Thursday morning, after offering prayers, a group of around 30 devotees went to pay obeisance at the samadhi of Devra Baba and boarded a boat to cross the river. But the group was forced to shift between vessels midstream due to a mechanical fault. At the same time, a temporary pontoon bridge on the Yamuna, opened for the movement of heavy machinery, began drifting with the current, he recounted. "In seconds, the bridge struck our boat like a storm. It overturned and we were thrown into the water," he recalled. Shwet Jain, 32, whose 50-year-old mother is currently on ventilator support, questioned why boats were permitted near repair zones. "An iron bridge was floating in the river, and the boatman tried to push it away with the boat. That caused the mishap. Even after the boat capsized, help did not arrive immediately," said Jain, who is a resident of Shastri Nagar in Ludhiana. Several pilgrims from Ludhiana's Geeta Colony were also part of the group. The Ludhiana administration has set up 24x7 helplines - 01624-223226 (SDM Jagraon office) and 0161-2403100 (DC office Ludhiana) - for assistance to affected families....