At least four people were killed and four others hospitalized Monday after a boat ferrying them capsized in a river in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, officials said.
Over two dozen people were rescued safely from the water.
The boat capsized in the river Ganga in Ballia district, about 400 km southeast of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh.
“Today a boat carrying villagers capsized in river Ganga. The people were on their way to a local fair. Four bodies have been fished out and four others rescued in injured condition were immediately removed to hospital,” an official of the Ballia administration said.
According to Ballia district magistrate Ravindra Kumar, 30 people were on the boat at the time of the accident.
However, locals told the media the boat was carrying 50 people and capsized apparently due to overcrowding.
Boat capsizing incidents are common in India as many people, especially those in rural areas, use traditionally made boats as a mode of transport.