15 killed as boat carrying 70 passengers capsizes in Pakistan

An overcrowded boat carrying devotees capsized in a creek in Pakistan's Sindh province on Thursday, killing at least 15 people, authorities said.
The boat carrying members of the Dawoodi Bohra community capsized near to Thatta city.

Deputy Commissioner Thatta Nasir Baig the accident took place as the overloaded boat lost balance and tipped over in a creek, 30 kilometres away from Bohara. He added that the boat was carrying passengers travelling to the shrine of Pir Pathai to celebrate a festival.

He said the boat was carrying 60-70 passengers.

At least 15 bodies have been recovered, according to officials at the Mirpur Sakro Taluqa Hospital.

About 15-20 people were rescued and admitted to the hospital in an unconscious state, Dawn news quoted Baig as saying.

Commissioner Hyderabad Division Saeed Magnejo said that the ongoing local rescue efforts are being supported by coordination between Navy and Army units in the area.

According to local rescue officials, the passengers were devotees seeking to attend the annual urs celebration of the sufi saint. They are believed to be members of the Dawoodi Bohra community.