NEW DELHI, Jan 19 (NNN-PTI) – At least 12 people, including children and teachers of a private school, are feared dead, after a boat carrying them for a joyride, capsized in a lake, in the western Indian state of Gujarat, officials said.
The boat overturned in Harani Motnath Lake of Vadodara, about 127 km south-east of Gandhinagar, the capital city of Gujarat.
“It is said, there were 27 people on the boat, at the time of its capsizing. Fifteen people have been rescued and removed to the nearest hospitals, and the remaining 12 are reported to be missing,” an official said.
According to officials, apart from local volunteers, rescuers from the police and the fire services department were carrying out searches for the missing. Authorities have also rushed National Disaster Response Force personnel, to intensify the searches.
The search operation was underway until the last reports poured in.
Officials said, the school had organised a picnic for the students.
Reports said, the boat was carrying people much beyond its capacity, and none of them were wearing life jackets.– NNN-PTI
