Valsad (Gujarat), June 2 (IANS) At least two pilgrims were drowned and many were missing after an overloaded boat capsized off a jetty in the Arabian Sea near here in south Gujarat Saturday, a fishermen's representative said.
According to South Gujarat Fishermen's Association president Narayan D. Tandel, the incident occurred around 3 p.m. when a large number of pilgrims were preparing to go on a joyride in the sea off Kosamba near this coastal town.
These pilgrims have arrived from various parts of Gujarat for Asaram Bapu's congregation starting here in a couple of days. They hired a local boat for a trip. However, in their anxiety to get on board, they virtually created a stampede, causing the boat to tilt, Tandel told IANS.
Police, Indian Coast Guard and maritime officials in Gujarat have launched a massive rescue operation to save the missing pilgrims.
At the time of the incident, over a hundred pilgrims had boarded the boat, resulting in the tragedy.
Tandel said that as per the latest information, at least two persons drowned and the fate of many others missing is not yet clear.
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