22 drown as a boat capsizes in Baghpat

Lucknow: At least 22 people died due to drowning and several others were reported missing when an overloaded boat capsized in the Yamuna river in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.

Baghpat district magistrate Bhawani Singh said the boat was carrying over 60 people, against its capacity of 25 passengers. “It sank near Katha village, about 20 km from the district headquarters. Rescue teams were immediately pressed into service,” he said.

As soon as the news spread, local residents went on a rampage, blocking the Delhi-Saharanpur highway and setting vehicles on fire. The district officials who reached the spot also faced stone-pelting.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath condoled the deaths and announced compensation of Rs 2 lakhs for each of the deceased. An inquiry was also ordered.

The police and PAC personnel fished out 22 bodies so far, while 12 others were rescued, the DM said. A search was on for others. A majority of the passengers of the ill-fated boat, that allegedly didn’t have a licence, were women.