India boat capsize toll rises to 26, more dead feared

AFP, NEW DELHI: The death toll from a boat accident in eastern India rose to 26 on Sunday, a senior official said, warning of more casualties with rescue workers still scouring the waters.
The non-motorised wooden boat, packed beyond capacity with revellers returning from a kite festival, capsized Saturday in the Ganges river near Patna, the capital of Bihar state.
The exact number of missing could not be ascertained due to the absence of a passenger list but police said the boat was carrying at least 40 people.
Rescue workers were working round the clock looking for survivors, Anirudh Kumar, joint secretary of the state disaster management authority said.
“Workers pulled out 22 bodies in the night and this (Sunday) morning four more bodies were recovered,” he told AFP by phone.
“The boat capsized not very far from the shore. Some people managed to swim to safety. But we are fearing the number of dead could go up further.”

 

India boat capsize toll rises to 26, more dead feared

AFP, NEW DELHI: The death toll from a boat accident in eastern India rose to 26 on Sunday, a senior official said, warning of more casualties with rescue workers still scouring the waters. The non-motorised wooden boat, packed beyond capacity with revellers returning from a kite festival, capsized Saturday in the Ganges river near Patna, the capital of Bihar state. The exact number of missing could not be ascertained due to the absence of a passenger list but police said the boat was carrying at least 40 people. Rescue workers were working round the clock looking for survivors, Anirudh Kumar, joint secretary of the state disaster management authority said. Workers pulled out 22 bodies in the night and this (Sunday) morning four more bodies were recovered, he told AFP by phone. The boat capsized not very far from the shore. Some people managed to swim to safety. But we are fearing the number of dead could go up further.