4 dead, 15 missing as boat capsizes

UDAYAPUR, AUG 06 – At least four persons were killed while 15 others went missing when a boat capsized in the Saptakoshi river at Mainamaini-9 in Udayapur district on Monday. Five persons were rescued alive, police said.
The boat headed for Udayapur from Chatara in Sunsari capsized as it reached the banks on the other side of the river at around 3pm. Superintendent of Police Ajay Bhattarai said the boat hit a stone and overturned as it was about to anchor.
More than 80 people, mostly pilgrims, were travelling in the boat when the incident took place.
Police Inspector Mahendra Thapa at the Area Police Office, Rampur, said Parbati Khadka, 44, of Rampurthoksila in Udayapur district and Chandra Kumari Rai, 53, of Mahendranagar-4 in Sunsari district died in the incident.