Aurangabad: One person died while eight others are feared drowned when a country boat ferrying Bihar flood victims capsized in the swollen River Punpun near Kalem village in the district.
“One body has been fished out and search is on for eight others in the boat tragedy,” Aurangabad District Magistrate Kunwal Tanuj said on Wednesday.
Nine persons had swam to safety after the mishap, Tanuj said.
The DM, who visited the site of the tragedy late last evening, said so far no trace of the eight missing persons has been found despite a hectic search by the divers.
The search operation will continue on Wednesday, he added.
The personnel of State Disaster Management Force (SDRF) have been pressed into service to trace the missing, he said.
The country boat ferrying flood victims to safer place on Tuesday evening capsized midstream in the swollen Punpun river due to strong water current near Kalem village of Aurangabad, about 125 km from the state capital.
River Punpun is overflowing due to rains in Bihar and Jharkhand.
Tanuj said the district administration has banned plying of private boats in the river.
PTI