Ballia: At least four persons were killed and about two dozen others feared missing after a boat carrying nearly 40 devotees capsized at Ganga Ghat on Monday.
The devotees had come by boat for the Mundan Sanskar at Maldepur Ganga Ghat in Kotwali area of the city in the morning. When they were going to the other side of the river, the engine of the boat developed some snag and the boat overturned due to strong wind.
Ballia District Magistrate (DM) Ravindra Kumar said, "A large number of people had come by boat for the Mundan Sanskar on Monday at Maldepur Ganga Ghat in Kotwali area of the city....When they were going to the other side of the river, the boat engine developed some problem after which the boat overturned due to strong wind."
As soon as the information reached, the police-administration teams reached the spot and started relief and rescue work. The help of divers is being taken to rescue the missing people.
Accoring to reports, the deceased include 3 women.
In the accident video which went viral on social media, some women can be seen struggling by holding the rope tied on the boat. Some people are trying to rescue and pull out the drowned women and other persons.
Relief and rescue operation is still underway.
