Daijiworld Media Network – Patna

Patna, May 28: At least two people died and five others are feared missing after a boat carrying around 14 passengers capsized in the Ganga River near Umanath Ganga Ghat in Bihar’s Barh subdivision on Thursday.

According to eyewitnesses, strong winds are suspected to have overturned the boat in the middle of the river.

Local residents and nearby boatmen rushed to the spot immediately after the incident and managed to rescue several passengers before officials arrived.

“There were around 14 to 15 people on the boat. Some passengers were rescued using another boat, while several others are feared drowned,” an eyewitness told.

Barh SDPO Ramakrishna confirmed that police received information about the mishap shortly after the boat overturned.

“A small boat capsized due to strong winds. Fourteen people were on board. Seven people have been rescued safely, while two bodies have been recovered. Another five persons are currently missing,” the officer said.

He added that teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were being rushed to the site and a search-and-rescue operation had been launched to trace the missing passengers.