BAHRAICH: A boat capsized in Saryu river here this morning drowning six people, including four children, District Magistrate Ajay Deep Singh said.

According to a press release issued in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has condoled the loss of lives in the incident and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the family of each deceased.

The victims, residents of nearby Gopalpur and Behta villages, were returning after attending a fair in Ramgaon area when the boat capsized midstream, Singh said.

There were nine people on the boat, of which three swam to safety, the DM said.

All the bodies have been fished out and were being sent for post-mortem, Singh said, adding senior officials are present at the spot.

ADM Santosh Rai, who was at the spot to monitor the rescue operation, said the deceased have been identified as Rajesh (25), Brijesh (20), Magan (17), Vijay (16), Tirith (12) and Shakil (12).

The chief minister condoled the deaths and directed the district administration to promptly undertake relief and rescue works, the press release said.

Apart from the ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh announced for each of the bereaved families, they will also be provided an additional aid of Rs 5 lakh each through the Mukhyamantri Kisan Aur Sarvhit Bima Yojna, it said.