Jaipur : Ten women drowned when a boat they had boarded to cross a river capsized in Rajasthan Friday, police said.
The mishap occurred in Tonk district’s Deoli town, some 150 km from Jaipur.
“The victims were labourers who were crossing Banas river on a boat to reach a construction site. The boat capsized following which all the women and the boatman fell into the river,” said a police officer.
The officer said while some women managed to swim to the river bank, at least 10 of them drowned.
“The women who saved themselves informed villagers following which the district administration and police launched a rescue operation. All 10 bodies were fished out by evening,” said the officer.
It is not known how many people were in the boat at the time of the mishap.
An inquiry has been launched to ascertain why the boat capsized.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje expressed her condolences to the family members of the victims.