19 die in Pune boat capsize

PUNE: Nineteen people, including 10 women and five children, were killed when a crowded boat carrying over 30 passengers capsized in river Neera in Maharashtra, police said on Thursday.

The accident occurred Wednesday evening in Pune's Bhore sub-district, about 45 km from here, according to the police.

The police said 30 to 32 people were travelling in the crude boat that had a capacity for 10. The victims were returning after attending a marriage in Rajgar village.

"It was a windy day. So the heavily loaded boat started wobbling," Superintendent of Police (rural) Nagre Patil said.

One naval boat has been deployed and rescue operations were launched. The police said 19 bodies were recovered till Thursday afternoon.

"The river is huge, so the recovery operation is not easy," Patil said.

Among the victims, 14 were from the same family. The police said seven people swam to the shore.