The boat capsized at Kanja village of Shankarpur-3. The body of Himsara Kafle, 57, of Bhakunda, Sripur-3, who had gone missing after the accident, has been recovered.[break]
However, Nine-year-old Anju Chowdhary, of Shankarpur-4, nine-month-old Anipul Rana, of Sripur-5, and 25-year-old Gokarna Rana, of Shankarpur-1, are still missing in the river.
There were thirty-six to thirty-seven people on the boat when it capsized, according to Inspector Nrip Shah of Belauri Area Police Office. All those on the boat were traveling from Kanja village to Bhakunda village of Sripur-1.
“Of the total on board, thirty-one people are safe,” Shah said from the accident site. “The actual number of the missing is yet to be ascertained.”
“Most of the people swam to safety,” said Radheshyam Rana, a local.
As there is no bridge, people use boats to cross the river from June to September. Most of the passengers were traveling to their relatives´ houses to observe the Olke Sankranti festival when the accident happened. Some of them were traveling to Belauri market for shopping.
The search for missing has been hindered due to heavy rainfall that has led to a rise in the water level. Police have taken the boat´s operators Ramdin Rana and Munim Rana in custody for questioning.
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