Eight people are reported to have died and one is missing after a boat capsized near Karwar, in Karnataka, today. According to initial reports, there were 26 people on board the boat.
So far, fishermen and coastguards have recovered eight bodies and are looking for the missing person. Of the 26 people, 17 were rescued by civil boats operating in the area.
The boat was carrying devotees from the offshore island of Kurumgarh to Rabindranath Tagore Beach near Karwar, a Navy statement said. The boat capsized around 3pm and the district administration was informed about the incident around 445pm.
The Indian Navy has also been roped in to assist in the search operation off Karwar bridge in Kali River.
Two Chetak helicopters from the Indian Navy were dispatched from Goa at 1705 to assist in the search and rescue operations. Naval divers have also been sent to the spot.