22 dead after boat capsizes in UP's Baghpat, CM Yogi Adityanath announces compensation

Lucknow: At least 22 people died and many feared drowned in the Yamuna river after an overloaded boat capsized in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district on Thursday.

The boat was carrying at least 60 people, Baghpat District Magistrate Bhawani Singh said.

The boat sank close to Katha village, 20 km from the district headquarters, according to PTI. 

Soon after the news spread, local policemen and Provincial Armed Constabulary divers were rushed to the mishap site to carry out the rescue operation.

Police and PAC personnel have fished out 22 bodies so far while 10 others have been rescued, he said. 

"The boat was ferrying passengers more than its capacity. Most of the passengers of the ill-fated boat were women. As soon as the boat reached mid-stream it capsized," the district magistrate said.

Expressing grief over the incident, CM Yogi Adityanath issued instructions that the kin of the deceased be given Rs 2 lakh as relief from the chief minister's relief fund.

Yogi Adityanath also directed the district magistrate to immediately provide succour to the affected people, Principal Secretary (Information) Awanish Awasthi said.

He said a probe has been ordered into the incident.