20 drown in boat disaster in the swollen Kosi

Madhepura, Aug 29 (UNI) At least 20 people drowned when an overcrowded Army rescue boat capsized in the flood water of the mighty Kosi near Mirganj in north Bihar district this evening.

District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar confirming the death of 20 villagers said eight more people went missing after the Army rescue boat carrying about 60 villagers to a relief camp overturned when some more people tried to get into it forefully.

Among the missing was an Army jawan.

Mr Kumar said 32 people either swam to safety or were rescued by the local people and the Army jawans.

Efforts were on to trace the eight missing.

He said this was considerted to be one of the most tragic boat disasters since the flood situation turned catastrophic in north Bihar, particulatly after the Kosi breached embankments and changed its course.

UNI Team-ABA SJC AB 2109