Ranchi, Oct 15: Villagers carrying out rescue operations have so far recovered 12 bodies, including those of three children and five women, from the Getalsud reservoir in which two boats capsized yesterday, police said here today. The district administration has announced Rs 10,000 ex gratia for the next of kin of the dead.
Deputy commissioner Jaishanker Tiwari said there were about 20 passengers from seven or eight villages in the two boats, which were tied to each other.
Eyewitnesses, however, claimed that there were around thirty people on the boats.
The state government has requisitioned the help of navy divers from Orissa's Rengli base but they were yet to arrive.
The passengers, four of whom swam to safety, were sailing to Salhan village when they were caught in the storm near Rukka village, about 25 km from here.
Chief minister Babulal Marandi, visited the spot yesterday.
Jirga Munda Bhakt, a survivor, who was sailing to Salhan with his wife Lakhi Devi and four-year old son Ramkrishna to offer puja, said the child slipped from his hand when the boat tilted and overturned.
He buffeted through the choppy waters for two hours before he could reach the shore, a sobbing Bhakt said adding, his wife and son were still missing. Bureau Report