7 dead in Malda boat capsize

Malda: Seven persons died and more than 50 are missing after a boat capsized in the Mahananda river in Chanchal on Thursday evening. Search operations continued till late into the night and only 12 persons could be rescued.
A huge police force along with officials of the disaster management team is at the spot. The seven who died have not been identified as yet.
On the occasion of Panchami, a boat racing (baich) was organized at Mukundapur Ghat under Itahar police station.The area being close to Chanchal of Malda and Madhughat of Bihar, many people were there to watch the event.
After the competition was over, villagers were returning home in boats. One such boat carrying more than 70 persons coming to Jagannathpur Ghat of Mahanandapur gram panchayat of Chanchal capsized in the middle of the river around 6.30pm. The water level was much higher than normal due to floods. Local panchayat pradhan Aktarul Islam claimed that the boat was carrying much more than its capacity.
Asif Iqbal, the MLA from Chanchal, said: “So far, seven bodies have been recovered. More than 50 people are missing.”