5 persons missing as boat capsizes in Ganga

Five persons went missing on Friday as a boat capsized in river Ganga at Salempur ghat in Bihar's Bhojpur district, a police officer said.

The mishap took place as the boat ferrying 60 people toppled due to overcrowding and began sinking, the Superintendent of Police (SP) Kim said. While five persons were missing, the rest managed to swim ashore, she said.

A National Disaster Response Force squad from Patna was its way for carrying out rescue and search operation, Kim said.

The boat was carrying 60 people of Keotia village to the other side of the river for tonsure ceremony of a minor boy, the SP said.