Boat Capsizes in Ganges, 14 Feared Drowned (Update)

As many as 14 people have drowned as a boat capsized in the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district today, said media reports citing police.

According to reports, nearly 65 people were in the boat when the mishap occurred near the Ujwalia bank, reports said.

“We have taken out 14 bodies with the help of divers and the river police,” district police chief VK Shekhar was quoted.

“Several people are still missing. The death toll is likely to go up,” District Magistrate Senthil Pandiyan was quoted as saying by IANS.

According to police, those in the boat were going to perform rituals related to the mundan ceremony of their children midstream.

UPDATE: Continuing to rise steadily till late evening, authorities said the death toll in the tragedy had soared to at least 43.

The Mayawati government announced a Rupees One Lakh compensation for the next to kin of all those killed in the capsize.

(Based on internet reports)