Key Takeaways:
- Three people including a child died in Saptakoshi boat accident
- Three passengers remain missing as rescue operation continues
- Nine people including the driver survived the incident
- Boat carrying 15 passengers overturned while travelling to Chatara
Three people, including a child, have died and three others remain missing after a passenger motorboat carrying 15 people capsized in the Saptakoshi River near Triveni on Sunday afternoon.
The boat, operated by OBM Company, was travelling from Kopche in Bhojpur's Hatuwagadhi Rural Municipality to Chatara in Sunsari when it reportedly lost control and overturned in the river at around 2pm.
Police and Armed Police Force teams launched rescue operations immediately after the accident and pulled 12 people, including the driver, from the river. Three of the rescued passengers later died while undergoing treatment at Chatara Hospital.
The deceased have been identified as Lila Rai, 52, of Barahakshetra Municipality-1, Sunsari. Authorities are still working to identify a girl believed to be around six or seven years old and a man estimated to be between 40 and 50 years old who also died in the accident.
Nine people, including driver Suman Magar, 24, survived the incident.
Rescue teams continue to search for three missing passengers: Shivak Magar, 7, of Kankai Municipality-4, Jhapa; Pramila Magar, 21, of Barahakshetra-1, Sunsari; and Manu Rai, 22, of Barahakshetra-1, Sunsari.
Police said 14 personnel led by Dhankuta District Police Chief Narayan Ranjitkar and 16 Armed Police Force personnel have been mobilised for search and rescue operations along the river.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, although initial reports indicate the boat may have suffered brake failure before overturning.