One dead, five missing in Bhagalpur boat capsize

PATNA: A woman’s body was fished out from the Ganga and five others feared drowned after an overloaded boat capsized near Darshan Manjhi Ghat at Teen Tanga village under the Gopalpur police station area in Bhagalpur district on Thursday.
SHO of Gopalpur police station Kunal Anand said the deceased was identified as Sunaina Devi (35), a resident of Teen Tanga village.“The woman’s body was handed over to her family members after an autopsy. The process to disburse Rs 4 lakh ex gratia to the next of the kin of the deceased has been initiated,” the SHO said.
He added four women – Kaushalya Kumari (18), Bindo Devi (40), Sita Devi (30) and Geeta Devi (23) – and a minor boy, Ranvir Kumar (10), all from Teen Tanga village, are still missing. “They were last spotted boarding the boat. They are feared drowned. However, we cannot confirm it until the bodies are fished out from the river,” he said.
The SHO said altogether 17 people, including several children and women, who were on the boat reached primary health centre at Gopalpur for treatment. “Of the 17, five had been sent to home after primary treatment. The rest are still under observation,” he said, adding the incident took place around 8.30am.
Naugachhia SDPO Dilip Kumar said the unlicensed boat was carrying 50 to 60 people. “The boat has the capacity to carry 150 people. However, fertilisers and other agricultural items were loaded on the boat beyond capacity,” the SDPO added.
Bhagalpur DM Pranav Kumar said search and rescue operations were on at the spot. “Efforts are on to trace the missing people,” he added.