Three killed in passenger boat capsizing in Bihar, India

Authorities in India have confirmed that three people were killed while at least 18 others have gone missing after a boat ferrying passengers capsized in the eastern state of Bihar on Wednesday, November 1.

The incident occurred along the Saryu River at Matiyar near the border with Uttar Pradesh state at around 18:30 local time on Wednesday.

Only nine of the vessel’s occupants managed to swim to shore and another two were rescued while the bodies of three deceased individuals were pulled out of those same waters by Thursday, November 2.

Initial reports stated that the boat may have overturned and capsized as a result of the passengers all moving to one side while it was underway.

There are conflicting accounts as to the exact number of people who were on the boat at the time of the capsizing.

The incident is the second fatal passenger vessel capsizing to occur in Bihar in less than two months. On September 14, a boat capsized in the Bagmati River in central Bihar, resulting in the drowning deaths of at least 10 children aged between eight and 14.

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