With the recovery of 35 more bodies, the toll in the boat capsize in Bihar's Khagaria district rose to 56 on Wednesday, as search the National Disaster Response Force personnel continued to search for nearly 20 more missing people.
"We recovered 35 more bodies from the river taking the toll in the capsize to 56," said Block Development Officer (Alauli) Satish Chandra Mishra from the spot.
Twenty-one bodies, mostly of minors and women, were found from a country boat carrying 100 passengers which capsized in Bagmati river near Fultora ghat of Khagaria district on Monday evening. The passengers were returning to their villages after attending a fair on Vijaya Dashami.
The bodies were recovered by the NDRF personnel, he said, and added that the local divers were still on the job.
Some 25 passengers had swum to safety.
Khagaria Superintendent of Police Indranand Mishra said the toll might go up to 75. Chief Minister Nitish Kuamr had ordered that search operations be intensified and announced ex-gratia of Rs 1.5 lakh to the families of each of the deceased.
