AMN / PATNA
At least 12 people were killed and 16 others are missing in the incidents of drowning and boat capsize today under separate police station areas in Patna and Samastipur districts of Bihar.
Police sources said 9 people including 5 women drowned and 3 others went missing while taking bath at Mastana Ghat on the banks of river Ganga under Fatuha (फतुहा) police station area of Patna district.
Rescue and search operation is on by district administration. Bodies of the 9 victims have been fished out from river. The incident took place around 11 a.m. when victims slipped into deep water while taking bath.
In other incident, three women drowned and 13 others went missing when a country made boat capsized in river Bagmati this morning under Hathodi police station area of Samastipur district.
Trained swimmers have been pressed into the service in rescue and search operation. Four villagers were rescued. Police said a country made boat carrying 20 villagers to Ratras Village capsized due to overloading.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over both the incidents and announced an ex-gratia of 4 lakh rupees each to the next of the kin of the deceased.