Over 30 missing as boat capsizes in Ganga

PATNA: Over 30 people, mostly women and children, were missing when a country boat ferrying over 50 people capsized in the Ganga in Patna district on Thursday.

Around 17 people either swam to safety or were saved by locals and the rest have not been found so far, District Magistrate B Rajendra, who is supervising the rescue operation said.

The mishap occurred near Darmiahi Ghat under Malsalami police station around 11 am when the boat carrying around 50 people was on its way to Raghopur in Vaishali district.

The DM said prima facie overloading appeared to be the reason behind the tragedy.

Against a capacity of 20-25, nearly 50 people were on board the country boat, officials as well as eyewitnesses said.

Rajendra said rescue boats and divers have been pressed into service. No body has been found so far, he added.

Naresh Rai and Golu Das, the two who were on the boat and managed to swim to safety, said that when the boat reached midstream water rushed in and it capsized.

Golu Das said his brother Kailash and nephew Arjun Das were among those missing.

Soon after getting information about the tragedy, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was busy in Janata ke darbar me mukhya mantri programme spoke to Patna DM and later left for the site of the accident.