25 muslim pilgrims die as boat capsizes

India — a rescue helicopter and divers searched on Sunday for dozens missing after a boat crowded with Muslim pilgrims capsized near the Bay of Bengal, killing at least 25, police said, Associated Press reports.

More than 100 people were packed onto the 60-capacity motorized boat when it was toppled by a wave from a passing ship Saturday afternoon in the mouth of the Hooghly River, West Bengal‘s deputy police director Surajit Kar Purkayastha said.

Local boatmen rescued 50 people and recovered 25 bodies, including three young girls, before suspending the search due to darkness. Another body was found when the search resumed Sunday with the Indian navy, coast guard and police scouring the wide river estuary, Parganas district police chief Laxmi Narayan Meena said.

At least 30 people have been hospitalized. Police earlier had reported just 40 rescued, but learned Sunday of more survivors.

It was unclear exactly how many people had been on board as no passenger count was taken. Some of the survivors told rescue officials that around 100 people could still be missing, police said.



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