Boat capsizes in Gujarat

Boat capsizes in Gujarat

Sixteen bodies have been recovered after a passenger boat sank in the Indian state of Gujarat, police say.

The accident happened on the Narmada River in the district of Bharuch.

Officials said the boat was carrying 42 people from the town of Katpur to Jageshwar when it capsized in the Bay of Khambhat on Thursday.

The passengers were travelling to a religious ceremony at the point where the river meets the sea.

High tides and strong winds are believed to have caused the accident.

Long river

Police say 25 people managed to swim ashore but one person is still missing.

The Narmada River originates in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh and empties into the Arabian Sea after flowing through Maharashtra and Gujarat states.

It has been the focus of protests in recent years over plans to build a massive dam.

Activists, including best-selling Indian author Arundhati Roy have held rallies in protest at the controversial dam project.

Around 30 people drowned and another 40 were injured after a ferry capsized in a lake in Kerala last year.