Narmada boat capsize: Toll increases to seven

Jabalpur, Jan 16 (PTI) The death toll in yesterday''s boatcapsize rose to seven with the recovery of three more bodiesfrom river Narmada near here, police said today.

The bodies of Mahendra Kannaujia, a resident of Jabalpur,Dalchandra Tiwari and his son Hamendra Tiwari, hailing fromSeoni district, who had gone missing after the boat carryingthem overturned in the river, were fished out from the watersin the early hours today, they said.

According to police, a search is on to nab the boatmanGuddu Patel who has been booked after the incident, policesaid.

The mishap occurred due to the negligence of Patel, theysaid adding that the boat carried more people than itscapacity.

The boat, carrying 25 persons, had overturned when thevictims were enjoying a ride at Sidh Ghat. Eighteen peoplewere rescued by divers following the capsize.