A three-member investigation committee led by Assistant Chief District Officer Kamal Bahadur Thapa was formed on Monday to probe Saturday’s boat capsize in Saptakoshi river.

Chief District Officer Mohan Bahadur Chapagain said the committee will present a report within a week. Police said nine persons

are still missing in the incident. The missing people are from Srilanka Tappu and Sisuwa areas. They were on their way to Prakashpur where a weekly market is held on Saturdays.

According to the villagers, 62 people, including women and children, were on board the boat when it capsized. Police said 37 people were rescued. 

The meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee also decided to register boats, limit passenger numbers and make life jacket compulsory for the passengers who travel on boats in Rajabash Ghat.

The District Administration Office (DAO) is going to collect around 100 life jackets

from various local government bodies. CDO Chapagain said the DAO will inspect the area to strictly enforce the life jacket rule.

Locals said the boatmen have been operating boats in the Saptakoshi river for the last six decades. “We have seen boat accidents each year,” said 70-year-old Mahesh Mehata of Srilanka Tappu.