Five dead, nine missing in boat capsize

Midnapore, Aug 24 (UNI) Five people, including a child, drowned and nine went missing when a boat ferrying 60 people capsized in the Silabati river near Garbheta town in West Midnapore district of West Bengal last night.

Additional District Magistrate, West Midnapore, S Mahapatra said the incident took place when 15,000 cusecs water was released from Kangsavati reservoir generating an artificial high tide that caused the boat to overturn.

Some of the passengers swam to safety, while others were rescued by the local people.

Search parties have been sent to trace out the missing.

''Eight blocks of the district have been affected by the sudden release of water from the dam affecting 50,000 people. The situation worsened further due to continuous rainfall over the past few days,'' she said.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has already sent relief materials.

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