Patna: In a tragic incident, at least nineteen people lost their lives due to drowning and many are said to be missing after a boat carrying almost 40 passengers capsized in the river Ganga in Patna on Saturday. Police officer Chandan Kushwaha says the incident took place Saturday as 40 people were returning by the boat after attending a Hindu religious festival in a village across the river near Patna, the state capital of Bihar. "While eight people have so far been rescued by the NDRF team, at least 25 passengers managed to swim to safety," an ANI report said earlier. Patna's DIG Shaleen said, "It's a sad incident ...the rescue operations are on and 20 dead bodies have been recovered from the Ganga. Police say the boat could carry up to 25 passengers, but that it was overcrowded because people were returning to Patna after attending the Hindu festival, which was organized by the state government.
At least 21 people drown in a boat accident in the Ganges River in Patna, India.