In a tragic incident, a boat with almost 60 people onboard capsized in Mahananda River in West Bengal. At least seven people died and several others said to be missing of this mishap at Jagadishpur on Thursday night around 6.30 pm. Those rescued have been immediately shifted to a nearby hospital.
The incident took place when around 60 passengers were returning home on the boat after watching a boat race, that is organised annually at Mukundapur Ghat under Itahar police station on the fifth day of Durga Puja celebration.
After the happening, district administrations were rushed to the spot along with the NDRF team. According to a relative of a victim Saddam Ali , the boat was fully loaded and capsized near the jetty.
However, there are two versions of the eye witnesses, while one of them has claimed that 30 to 40 people were onboard the boat, the other says that it was carrying close to 70 people.
The SP said that while the reason behind the capsize is yet to be confirmed, the tragedy took place when the boatman tried to turn the boat in a particular direction and lost control.
In the meantime, the police has registered a case and started investigation into the matter. The rescue operation was underway at the time the last update came in.
