Motihari, Sept. 16: The district authorities are confused over the actual toll of missing and dead occupants of the boat that capsized midstream in the Burhi Gandak in East Champaran yesterday.

Around eight persons have reportedly swam ashore and the divers have managed to recover only two bodies in the past 24 hours.

The district administration is doubtful whether all other passengers of the ill-fated boat have swam ashore. East Champaran district magistrate Abhijit Sinha today said there were reasons to believe that the people feared drowned might have swam to safety.

Sinha said: “The rescue of the people during the search operation in the past 28 hours has suggested beyond doubt that all other victims of the boat tragedy must have come out of the river and gone home.” However, according to Shambhu Rai, husband of ghat lessee Raj Kumari Devi, nearly 40 passengers had boarded the boat after paying fare.

He told The Telegraph: “Most of them belonged to Mohammadpur, Majhaulia, Rajepur, Jhitkahiya, Sobhita, Salemda and Galimpur Bhurka villages under five panchayats that fall on the other side of the river under Rajepur police station area. Besides, there were nearly 10-15 people who couldn’t be identified because they were not locals like the others.”

Sinha, meanwhile, ordered an inquiry into the incident and asked block officials concerned to lodge an FIR against the lessee of the ghat.

“Compensation under the provisions of the state government, has already been paid to the next relative of both the victims — Siyapati Devi (35) and Pinki Kumari (8 months) — whose bodies were recovered,” said Sinha.

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