At least eight persons were killed and 18 others feared drowned in two separate boat mishaps in Bihar's Purnia and adjoining Supaul districts on Wednesday, officials said.
Eight persons were drowned and 12 others missing after an overcrowded country boat capsized in the swollen Kosi river at Kanpghat village in Bihar's Purnia district.
District magistrate Shirdhar Cherubello said eight bodies had been fished out so far and efforts were underway to find more bodies and survivors with the help of local divers.
Ten people travelling on the boat swam to safety, he said. In another mishap, six persons, including three children, were feared drowned when a boat with about 30 onboard overturned in the Kosi river near Nirmali in neighbouring Supaul district.
The boat was sailing from Rasuar-Navtoli village to Nirmal when it sank. While most passengers either swam to safety or were rescued by locals, six were still missing and feared drowned. Divers were looking for bodies, but none had been found so far, sub-divisional magistrate Jitendra Singh said.