45 people dead as boat capsizes in Ganga

tragedy onboat: A volunteer takes a victim of a boat tragedy to hospital in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday. pti

The mishap occurred when the ill-fated boat carrying about 60 people overturned mid-stream in the river, reportedly due to over-loading, near the Ojhawalia ghat, police sources here said.

The death toll could climb as several people were reported to be missing, sources said. According to the eyewitness accounts there were around 75 people in the boat.
Thirteen bodies have been recovered so far, official sources said.
Seventeen people either swam to safety or were rescued by the local people and boatmen.
Rescue operations had been launched and divers have been pressed into service to trace the survivors.

Senior officials had reached the spot to supervise relief and rescue operations.
DH News Service