Saharsa: Nearly 30 people were feared drowned when an overcrowded boat capsized midstream of the Kosi river off Jauri village of Bihar's Saharsa district on September 2, official sources said.

The sources said the boat was carrying around 70 people of whom around 40 either swam to safety or were rescued by the locals.

Nobody had so far been fished out, they said adding that rescue operations had been launched with the help of local divers.

Police superintendent Ajitabh Kumar and sub-divisional officer Naim Akhtar rushed to the spot to supervise rescue efforts.

PTI