Patna, December 1 (IANS). Heartbreaking news came from West Champaran district of Bihar. A major accident took place here when a boat overturned near Koir Patti Ghat in Bairia block. There were 15 people in the boat at the time of the accident. This incident spread panic in the area. Local divers and villagers rescued several people from the river, but two girls (a 17-year-old and an 8-year-old) are still missing. According to the information, Bairia residents were returning home after cutting fodder for their cattle from Diara area. In the dark, an overcrowded small boat collided with a larger ship and capsized it. This sudden accident created chaos and all the passengers fell into the river. Divers present at the site, along with local villagers, pulled many men and women from the water. However, 17-year-old Punita Kumari, daughter of Dharam Yadav, and 8-year-old Sugi Kumari, daughter of Ramesh Yadav, are still missing. Local divers and a team from SDRF have reached the spot and are continuing the search, but due to darkness, the operation is hampered. The completely sunken boat has not yet been recovered. Anuj Kumar Singh, head of the Bairia police station, said that the boat was small and had more people than its capacity. The depth of the river at the accident site is high, due to which this major accident occurred. Two girls have drowned and the SDRF team is searching for them. Local residents said that around 15 to 20 passengers, all residents of Pakhnaha Dumariya Ward no. 11 and 8 of Bairia block, boarded the boat, though the boat had a capacity of only 5 to 6 people. Relief and rescue teams are present at the scene and the search for the two missing children is underway. The families of the missing girls are inconsolable. After this tragedy, the whole area is in shock and disbelief. –IANS MS/DKP Share this story Tags