Kathmandu: At least 45 people were reported missing after a boat capsized in a river in southwestern Nepal Sunday morning, media reports said.

The incident occurred in the Saptakoshi river in Sunsari district, some 220 km from Kathmandu, according to the Avenues TV.

The police have recovered one body so far while 11 people swam to safety following the accident, the Myrepublica.com online news portal said, quoting police sources.

Local people and police have been searching for more survivors, but the efforts have been hampered by dense fog in the region.

According to chief district officer Durga Bhandari, the boat was carrying between 50-60 passengers -- beyond its capacity -- which might have been the main reason behind the accident.

People in the district have been using boats as means of transportation since the Saptakoshi flood destroyed the East-West Highway in August last year.

 

Source : ians