At least 16 dead, 70 missing as Indian ferry sinks

KOLKATA: Rescuers were battling to find survivors on Saturday after an overcrowded ferry capsized and sank in a river in eastern India, leaving at least 16 people dead and 70 others missing, police said.

Indian coastguard and navy personnel were diving into the cold waters to search for victims of the ferry accident, which took place as the overcrowded vessel faced strong waves on Saturday morning, police said.

"Fishing boats have fished out 16 bodies from the waters of the turbulent river," senior West Bengal state police officer Surojit Karpurokayastha told AFP.

"Seventy people are still missing," the police officer added.

The vessel, which was carrying around 150 people, capsized in a river in the Sundarbans mangrove forest, 120 km south of Kolkata, capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, police said.

The boat had the capacity to carry just 60 passengers, officials said, but was badly overloaded.

The victims, who were mainly farmers and fishermen, were returning from a huge Muslim religious function when the accident occurred.

The ferry was one of five vessels making their way to Kakdwip from Khejuri in impoverished West Bengal state when the ship sank in the Muriganga River off Ghoramara Island.

"The boat was badly overcrowded and the vessel sank after a giant wave slapped the side of the vessel," West Bengal civil defence minister Srikumar Mukherjee told AFP.

Fishermen plucked over 60 survivors from the waters while four managed to swim to safety, police said. Many were recovering in hospital.

"The river's strong current is hampering the search operation," Mukherjee said.

Anxious relatives were keeping a vigil for news of their loved ones.

Darkness was also making it harder to find the victims but Mukherjee promised that the search would continue into the night.

Rescuers erected floodlights on the river's banks to make the search easier, but authorities feared that many of the victims had been swept away by the current.

Boat accidents are common in the South Asian subcontinent due to lax safety standards and overloading.

A similar ferry accident occurred in the same river in September, leaving two dozen people dead.