Several feared drowned as boat capsizes in Bihar district

Several people were feared drowned after a boat capsized in the Ganga River in Bihar's Vaishali district on Tuesday evening, officials said.

Sources said most of those on the ill-fated boat were children. The incident occurred under the Raghopur police station's jurisdiction in Vaishali district, as people were on their way to attend a feast in a village across the river, officials said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to each injured.

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary condoled the loss of life in the incident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each deceased.