Boat capsizes, at least 12 missing

KATHMANDU, Nepal, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- A boat capsized in the Kamal River in eastern Nepal, leaving at least a dozen people missing, authorities said.

Nepalnews.com said at least 17 people swam to safety after the boat capsized Tuesday evening near the districts of Siraha and Dhanusha.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency, quoting other media, said at least 15 of the 41 passengers, all of them farmers, on the overloaded boat were missing.

Survivors said the boat capsized after losing balance while negotiating rapids, Nepalnews said.

Search and rescue operations were still being carried out Wednesday.