11 feared drowned in boat accident in Varanasi

Varanasi, July 30 (UNI) At least 11 people, mostly women and children, were feared drowned when a boat capsized mid-stream in the river Ganga near the Garwha Ghat here today.

District Magistrate Beena Kumar Meena said here the overloaded boat was carrying about 20 people, mostly women and children, to the Garwha Ghat Ashram for the Guru Purnima celebrations.

The DM said one body, identified as Piyari Devi 65, was recovered by the divers while eight others were rescued.

Divers were still searching for the missing people, Ms Meena said.

The boat was coming from the Chota Mirzapur Ghat in the nearby Mirzapur district and all the occupants were residents of Kurani village.

However, local boatmen claims that more than 14 women and children drowned in the accident.

UNI