Death toll from capsized boat in Indian state of Odisha rises to 26

The death toll in a boating accident in a reservoir in the Indian State of Odisha rose to 26 Monday with the recovery of 15 bodies, officials said. The victims had been among 100 people on a boat that capsized Sunday in the Hirakud dam reservoir, the Hindustan Times reported. Most of the dead were women and children and five people were unaccounted-for, officials said. "Personnel of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force ... and fire brigade fished out 11 bodies by the Sunday evening, while 15 more were recovered on Monday," said Odisha special relief chief PK Mohapatra. The boat capsized when it was flooded with water after developing a snag in its motor pump while traveling across the reservoir, officials said. Witnesses said passengers tried unsuccessfully to drain water from the boat. The Times said some passengers jumped from the boat and floated until fishermen rescued them. State officials ordered an administrative inquiry by Sambalpur's revenue commissioner to determine whether the boat had proper safety and operational documentation.