The ill-fated boat, carrying around 45 passengers, was going to Dalupur from Uttar Pradesh's Ballia when it got caught in a whirlpool and capsized in Brahmpur police station area.
"Twenty-two bodies have been fished out. Local divers are engaged in search operations for the missing," DGP Neelmani told PTI in Patna.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident and directed state disaster management authorities to intensify rescue operation.
A compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh would be provided to the kin of each of the deceased, officials said.
District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police were camping at the spot to oversee rescue work. One company of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been sent to the spot to intensify search operation for the missing, the DGP said.
Published 10 October 2010, 17:43 IST