Many feared dead in India boat capsize

At least 19 people are feared drowned after a boat capsized in a river in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal.

Police said that the boat carrying 29 people sank in the Rupnarayan river near the town of Kolaghat on Sunday.

The passengers were said to be picnickers who hired two fishing boats for a ride on the river.

At least 10 of the picnickers were rescued after local residents reached them in motorised and traditional fishing boats.

Boats in India are often overloaded, which frequently leads to such incidents.

Divers and rescue workers have failed to recover any bodies since the incident.

One of the boats, which could only hold 12 people, capsized when it was caught in a whirlpool on the river, officials say.