Five people were feared dead in a boat capsize in Harda district of the State on Sunday. On Sunday evening, 12 persons were going from Harda to Gopalpura by boat, it is said that the boat was rowed by a girl.
According to local residents, the boat was rowed by a 20-year-old girl lalita, who is also missing after the incident. How the boat capsized is not yet clearIJ locals have informed that lalita used to make people cross the river daily.
Five were feared dead after a boat ferrying 10 people capsized in Ajnal river at Gopalpura village in Harda district at 3.30 pm. Two bodies were fished out and three passengers were missing at the time of rescue operations, which were stopped in evening as darkness enveloped the area.
"The boat capsized when 12 people on a small boat were crossing Ajnal river," Harda district SP Prem Babu Sharma said.
"Five, who jumped into the water, were saved as they knew swimming. Five are still missing. Rescue operations would be carried out on Monday morning." The dead and missing are locals and residents of Sontalai, Joga, Karkarda and nearby villages, he said.
Sources said locals from Gopalpura, Sontalai and nearby areas cultivate crop on land in the backwaters of Indira Gandhi dam and cross the river everyday by small boats to reach farms.
It was same routine when 10 such farmers were trying to cross the river, but the overcrowded boat capsized, sources said.