At least 20 dead as boat capsizes in India

The Yamuna river in India. AFP FILE PHOTO

LUCKNOW, India—At least 20 people died on Thursday when a boat packed with laborers capsized on the Yamuna river in northern India, an official said.

Dharam Pal Singh, the additional magistrate in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh state, told Agence France-Presse 20 bodies have been recovered. “It appears the boat was crowded beyond its capacity,” he said.

“The incident happened early morning. It was a privately hired boat and was carrying some 50-55 people,” said Singh.

Boat accidents are common in India, mainly because of overcrowding, poor maintenance and lax safety on ferries.

Nineteen people died in January when a boat carrying revelers from a kite festival capsized on the Ganges river in eastern India.