Police say death toll rises to 52 in northern India boat accident

Death toll in India boat accident rises to 52

LUCKNOW, India — The death toll from a boat accident in northern India rose to 52 on Tuesday as rescue workers continued to pull bodies from the Ganges river.

Police initially said the crowded vessel that capsized Monday was carrying about 70 passengers, well above its capacity of 30.

However, it appeared the boat was ferrying at least 100 people, mostly women and children, according to local magistrate P.K. Misra.

By Tuesday morning, search-and-rescue workers had pulled out 52 bodies, said Surendra Srivastava, a police spokesman. Twenty-five people managed to swim to safety.

The accident occurred in Uttar Pradesh state, 250 miles (400 kilometers) southeast of Lucknow, the state capital.

Boat tragedies are common in the impoverished state. Vessels used to ferry passengers are generally rickety and overcrowded, and people seldom use life jackets.