Bihar: 12 feared drowned after boat capsizes

Twelve persons were feared drowned when a boat capsized in Balan river in Bihar's Begusarai district on Wednesday evening, official sources said.

District Magistrate Sanjeev Hans said a boat with 35 persons on board capsized near Tauri village under Birpur police station around 6.30 pm.

While 23 passengers were either rescued or swam to safety, 12, including seven women, were still missing and were feared drowned, he said.

The boat was on way from Tauri to Jokia village in the same district.

Local divers have been pressed into service and giant nets have been cast to fish out the bodies and possible survivors.