ILAM, Oct 14: A boat carrying more than 40 people has capsized in the Mai River between Danabari VDC and Mahamai VDC in Illam district, killing 5 people.
The accident took place at 2 pm while the passengers were going to visit their relatives for Dashain tika on Friday.
District Police Office said that even though the dead bodies of five people were found, they have yet to be identified.
Chief District Officer, Janak Raj Dahal, said even though the dead bodies of six-seven people have been found, their identity has not been ascertained yet.
Dahal informed that the capsized boat which was traveling from Danabari to Mahamai was found near Chandalghat - about two kilometers away from the incident site.
Over 40 people were traveling in the boat, according to police.
A joint rescue team from the Area Police Office, Danabari and District Police Office, Jhapa has been deployed in the incident site.
According to Police Inspector, Rudra Chudal, 26 people have been rescued so far.
At least 24 school children drown after boat capsizes in Nile
However, the search operation for other missing passengers is still on.
