At least 11 people were feared killed, while six others swam to safety Monday after a boat capsized in eastern Indian state of Bihar, local officials said.
The boat capsized in River Gandak in Panapur of Saran district, about 70 km north of Patna, the capital city of Bihar.
"This morning at around 8:00 a.m. local time a boat carrying 17 local villagers capsized in the middle of river here," Anjali Kumari Anand, circle officer Panapur told Xinhua via telephone. "Of the 17, six managed to swim to safety, while as 11 others are missing and are feared dead."
Following the accident, locals alerted police, who along with some villagers initiated searches to trace the missing ones.
Last month, eight laborers were killed when an overcrowded boat capsized in the outskirts of Indian capital city New Delhi.
In April this year, 13 people drowned after boat carrying them capsized in southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.