Date:07/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/07/stories/2006080714560100.htm

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7 dead as boat capsizes in Yamuna

Special Correspondent

It was reportedly carrying more passengers than its capacity

CHANDIGARH: At least four persons were drowned and few could be still missing when a boat carrying them across the Yamuna capsized near Chainsa village of Faridabad district in Haryana early Sunday morning.

(According to PTI, seven people, including three girls, drowned and several were missing in the tragedy).

The boat was reportedly carrying more passengers than its capacity, according to senior officers.

They claimed that the lives of at least 10 to 12 persons had been saved thanks to the efforts of the local villagers, the Faridabad Municipal Corporation, Haryana Urban Development Authority and the divers of the Police and the Navy.

The dead have been identified as 40-year-old Maya and her five-year-old daughter Manju, Rup Chand (45) and Guddi (26).

The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Faridabad, Sanjay Joon, disclosed that even though no villager had so far reported any of their family members as missing, yet the Administration was not taking any chances and rescue and search operations would continue for some more time.

However, there was a virtual law and order situation in the morning as the local residents, alleging that the district authorities reached the spot almost two hours late, pelted stones and damaged Government, police and Fire Brigade vehicles.