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37 dead, many missing as ferry sinks in India's Assam

Other News Materials 30 April 2012 22:25 (UTC +04:00)
At least 37 people were drowned and many were believed missing when a ferry capsized in India's north-eastern state of Assam on Monday, police said.
37 dead, many missing as ferry sinks in India's Assam

At least 37 people were drowned and many were believed missing when a ferry capsized in India's north-eastern state of Assam on Monday, police said.

The vessel was carrying more than 200 passengers on the Brahmaputra River when it capsized near the remote western district of Dhubri. Some 50 people swam to safety, DPA reported.

"Thirty-seven bodies have been found from the river," inspector Susanto Sarkar said from the district police control room. "The accident occurred during a storm accompanied with heavy rains," he said.

Local media reports said at least 75 people were missing at the scene, situated 350 kilometres west of the state capital Guwahati.

Police, assisted by paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF), were carrying out rescue operations late Monday night.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sad he was "shocked and grieved" by the incident. He had given instructions for "all possible assistance" to local authorities in relief operations.

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