“They took a boat for joyride after picnic. It suddenly capsized. Police and other officials rushed to the spot and search and rescue operations are on,” said Bastab Baidya, SP, East Midnapore. Sources said the tragedy took place around 3.10 pm, when a group of 38 people from Ultadanga, located in the northern fringes of the city, reached Kolaghat river bank on a bus. They hired a boat for picnic. The boat suddenly lost balance and capsized due to overloading.

Nearly 23 people were either rescued or they swam ashore after the incident, but the fate of the others is still unknown. Due to poor visibility, generators and divers from the Haldia dock were pressed into action. Locals alleged that despite being a famous picnic spot, there was no deployment of river traffic police and adequate security arrangements in the area.

Some even had a heated argument with the police and manhandled a few of them. Later, the situation was brought under control after the intervention of the local legislator.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that a section of passengers, in an attempt to play with the water, moved to one side of the boat. As a result, the boat lost its balance and capsized. Police said the probability of finding the missing people alive was very less. “It is a very unfortunate incident. So far, we have failed to retrieve the bodies due to strong current and fading light. We have arrested the boat owner for allowing so many people on it,” said a senior police officer.