Mumbai: At least 11 people were feared drowned after a boat capsized in Varada river in Maharashtra’s Amravati district Tuesday, police said. The toll may rise as the authorities are yet to ascertain the total number of passengers on the boat. Teams from the police and the district disaster management authority have so far fished out three bodies from the river. Among the deceased is a minor girl an official said.
The incident took place around 10.30 am at Hatrana village, under the jurisdiction of Benoda police station. The boat carrying more than 20 people from three families capsized, the official informed.
Also read: Boat sinks in Assam river after colliding with ferry; several feared dead
Prima facie, it appears that the boat was unable to sustain the weight of its occupants, he said. The official added that the victims were going in the boat after performing a ritual on the banks of the river. While three bodies have been recovered so far, the search is underway for the others, the official said.
The tragedy comes within a few days of the Jorhat district, boat mishap in Assam. On that occasion, a passenger boat collided with a government ferry. Luckily however, the number of casualties was not high with only one person dying. However, Tuesday’s accident once more brings to light the flouting of rules both by passengers and boat owners. Sources said that the accident could have easily been averted Tuesday, if a lesser number of persons were accommodated on the boat.