Fifteen missing after boat capsizes in West Bengal

KOLKATA - Around 15 people, among them several children, were missing after a boat carrying a picnic party capsized in Rupnarayan river in West Bengal’s East Midnapore district Sunday.

“As per a rough estimate, 15 people travelling on the boat are still untraced. A majority of them are children,” East Midnapore district Superintendent of Police Bastab Baidya told IANS.

“Some of those who had fallen into the river have been rescued,” Baidya said, but could not give the exact figure of those who had boarded the boat or had swum to safety of the river bank.

The picnickers from Ultadanga in the northern part of the city were having a joyride on the boat when it capsized.

The state police control room also could not provide details about the exact number of people in the boat.

“We have to depend on eye witnesses. Some say there were 30 people on the boat, some say there were 38,” an officer manning the control room said.

Eyewitnesses said rescue work was hampered in the absence of divers as the state river traffic policemen could not contact those on their payroll.