Forty drowned as boat capsizes off in River Sutlej

Forty persons drowned as a boat capsized in River Sutlej near Okara here on Monday.

According to the details, seven dead bodies have been recovered from the river and rescue operation is underway to find other persons.

The police maintained that the identities of the victims were not immediately known.

The officials are investigating into the matter to find out the reason behind the unfortunate incident.

According to rescue sources, the boats were used for transportation, but today a sudden accident occurred while traveling.

Police said the death toll could further rise as rescue efforts are underway for other missing passengers, adding that the cause of the incident could not be ascertained yet.

Following the incident, all district administrations and rescue teams have been rushed to the area and shifted the bodies to a nearby hospital.

Volunteers from nearby areas were also rushed to the place and took part in the rescue and search operation.