Eight people were killed when a boat capsized at Maikhola River in Mahamai of Ilam district on Friday. Five people have been rescued after the incident in the river, Inspector at District Police Office RudraChudal said.

Two men, two women and a child were rescued and 21 others swam to safety. The incident site lies between Mahamai and Danabari.

Police believe that overload and flooded river could be the cause of the accident.  Those who survived the incident said there were 45 people on board the boat.

According to local Chandrakant Dhakal, five bodies were retrived from around the incident site and three others were found a little down the river. Twenty-six people have been rescued alive, locals said. The boat crossing the river with 50 people on board turned turtle in the middle of the river at around 12 pm.

Security personnel from Nepal Police, Armed Police force and the locals have been carrying out search to find the missing people. Locals assume that the river flooded due to incessant rainfall could be the reason behind the accident. However, the exact number of people on board has not been confirmed.

The identity of those killed in the incident has not been known.

Only two of the three boats were in operation to carry the people across the river. People of southern VDCs incluidng Mahamai, Danabari, and Banjho were risking their lives to cross the river due to lack of a bridge.