1st LD Writethru: 8 die as boat capsizes in Ganges river in eastern India
Xinhua, January 15, 2017 Adjust font size:
At least eight people died after a boat carrying 40 passengers capsized in Ganges river in the eastern Indian state of Bihar Saturday, a senior police official said.
"The incident took place in state capital Patna when the boat offered free joy ride on the river to people. The ferry was overcrowded, which led to the mishap near the shore," he said.
The death toll may go up as some passengers are still missing, the official said, adding few injured people who were rescued by locals have been admitted to a government hospital.
Local TV channels showed footage of rescuers diving in the river to save people who did not know how to swim.
Huge number of people had gathered near the river shore on the occasion of a three-day kite festival in the wake of a Hindu festival.
State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a probe into the incident. Endit