31 women feared killed in boat capsize in Maharashtra

Nagpur, July 12 (PTI) At least 31 women labourers were
feared killed when two boats carrying them capsized in
Wainganga river near Khamari village in Bhandara district in
India's western state of Maharashtra, about 75 kms from here,
police said Sunday.

Fifteen bodies, three of teenaged girls, have been fished
out while the police along with the locals and fishermen have
launched a search operation to trace the missing.

The incident took place Saturday evening when the women,
who worked in paddy fields, were returning home on the boats.
A sudden bolt of lightning panicked them and their movements
made the ferry lose balance and it capsized.

Two boatmen and four women managed to swam to safety
through swirling waters, they said.

While 10 bodies were recovered late Saturday night, five
were fished out Sunday morning from different locations as
they have been washed away by strong water currents.

Bodies of victims were handed over to their relatives
after post-mortem, they added.

Meanwhile, Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel,
who represents Bhandara-Gondia Lok Sabha constituency, along
with Maharashtra Minister of State for Irrigation Vijay
Wadettiwar and Minister of State for EGS Nanabhau Panchbudhe
visited the accident site.

He announced a compensation of Rs One lakh to the next of
the kin of the victims on behalf of Maharashtra Chief Minister
and Rs 25,000 each from Manohar Bhai Patel Trust. PTI