Banda (UP), Aug 12 (UNI) A rescue operation, called off amid heavy rain, restarted Friday with 17 people continuing to be missing after a boat capsized in Yamuna river in Uttar Pradesh's Marka area, police sources said here.
The sources said the operation was called off late Thursday amid heavy downpour. "Teams of SDRF, NDRF, water police and PAC started a rescue operation in the morning around 7 am," they said.
Additional Superintendent of Police Laxmi Niwas Mishra said though rescue operations have been launched, but no success has been achieved in four hours. "All the officers are present on the spot and are monitoring the rescue operation," he said.
In the meantime, bodies of three persons, which were recovered on Thursday, have been identified as Phulwa, Rajrani and Kishan (7), all residents of Fatehpur district.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has extended his sympathies towards the bereaved families and has announced a financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of the victims. He has directed that financial assistance should be given from the calamity relief fund.
Adityanath has also directed ministers Ramkesh Nishad and Rakesh Sachan to reach the spot immediately.
Till Thursday, three persons, including two women and a child, were reported killed, while 15 were rescued and 17 remained missing following the afternoon accident on Thursday.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhinandan said that the people of the area use boats as a medium of transportation to travel to neighbouring district Fatehpur. "It is being said that due to strong current, the sailor lost control and the boat capsized. Three bodies, including two women and a child have been recovered," he told the media on Thursday.
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