E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Utpal Baruah / Reuters
Onlookers and rescue workers look at a ferry which was brought ashore after it sank on the Brahmaputra river in the northeastern Indian state of Assam.
An overloaded double-decked ferry carrying mostly farmers and their families capsized in the Dhubri district of the northeastern Indian state of Assam on Monday, killing at least 103 people, police said.
About 100 people were rescued from the ship carrying about 300 passengers, which sank during a storm in the Brahmaputra River, Assam police chief Jayanta Narayan Choudhury told Reuters.
Reports on the number of dead and missing varied immediately after the accident.
People were sitting on the roof of the ferry when it tipped over in a storm in a remote region of the state, close to China and Bangladesh, police said.
"Our rescue efforts have been hampered by bad weather, it is still raining heavily and there is almost zero visibility in the area," P.C. Saloi, a police officer at the scene, told Reuters. Rescue operations were called off late at night and were set to begin again at sun up.
Eyewitnesses told police the vessel was old and broke in two after capsizing in the swollen river, one of Asia's largest. Smaller boats often get into trouble on the river, but the ferry was the largest to sink in recent years.
Reuters
Map of the ferry sinking in India
"I could see people being swept away as the river current was very strong," a witness, Rahul Karmakar, told AFP.
The boat was overloaded with people and sacks of rice, among other goods, and carried no lifeboats or life jackets, the police officer told Reuters..
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who represents Assam in the upper house of parliament, said he was "shocked and grieved" by the accident.
Rescue workers said they had contacted colleagues downstream in Bangladesh to help in the search for survivors.
Reuters contributed to this report.
More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- Did spies or 'Pakistani Blackwater' shield bin Laden?
- NBC sources: Blind Chinese activist is under US protection
- 'Slaughtered for their ivory': Up to 35,000 elephants slain in one year
- Listen up, criminals! Earprints lead cops to serial burglar
- UK to put missiles on rooftop to guard Olympics?
- Blind Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng escapes from house arrest
Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
Leave a Comment:
LOL
im indian and honeslty your comment is way better and humane then most of the comments. atleast you just said lol. every1 else is trash talking my country. i see how they take about hispanics calling them illegals, blacks criminals, muslims terriost. and the hate they have towards gays, poor, women and kids. i read a couple comments on here and im done. i dont need to read these hater comments. its really sad some ppl can be so hateful. like comment #2 is just sad. thank you sir for just saying LOL. its rude but hey, we live in the republicans world.
@rc, I hate this kind of ethnocentric attitude that more westernized and industrialized countries carry with them too. This is not a funny issue...many people just died. Just know that not all Americans have this type of thinking, and they give the rest of us a bad reputation for their rude egocentric remarks.
@ DBCOOP yeah i know that. i was born in this country. lot of americans of all race have been nice to me. its just some of the bigger more powerful folks have that hate. most americans are good ppl. just many of the mean ones all love to comment, end up becoming polticans or part of the goverment and gives all americans a bad name. industrialized might been the worst thing to happen to america. its made this country all about money and poltics. its just sad.
At least some good may come of it. Maybe some of those outsourced jobs will come back to the US!!!
Stop doing business with companies that OUTSOURCE YOUR job. Look at all your shoes. MADE IN CHINA, OUR ENEMY. NO CIVIL RIGHTS. Buy New Balance, at least they attempt to make some of their shoes in the US. Bring the jobs back home. BUY MADE IN THE USA. We the people can bring down the unemployment if we just look at what we're buying. The gov't doesn't care, we need to.
We would still lose jobs to them even if they bring the back to America, in my area more and more are popping up to take our jobs here.
BadBoy, next time you can stitch my shoes. Will pay you more than $30 for them.
Have some respect and take your soapbox somewhere else. The deaths of these people have nothing to do with outsourcing, and even if they did it's not anyone's place to say it's "good" that they lost their lives.
I agree that outsourcing jobs is a problem, but tell that to the companies that decide to do it. Don't blame innocent people who need any job they can get (who work for much less pay and benefits than US workers, hence the outsourcing.)
Is this true colour of America/ns ?
No, no good will come of so many dying. If you want jobs back in America change the laws that cause companies to go elsewhere, or try inposing tariffs. Glee over the death of innocent people will not help any.
Sorry Joe I never commented on any posts but yours one is really I do not have a word to say. Well, if their time is now to go home our time will also come soon but, only remorse is we will leave all our job in/to this world. Because, when we came to this earth we never got anything with us and when we leave this earth we will never be able to carry anything with us. That's a sad part.
I was an Indian and now I am an American above these two I am an Human.
Good Luck to you.
Lakshmi
Several people died and you are concerned about employment going overseas. If you spent this same amount of time and energy looking for a job that you do complaining maybe you would have a successful career. The government is going to do whatever they want like they always have been. Oh, and nobody in America wants the jobs they are working so it really doesn't matter now does it?
ur racist dude. how low can u go? 103 of my brothers and sisters died and ur worried about ur money making and politics? what does made in america mean anyway? industrilized where the animals are in confinement, everything is unatural? what is the difference if somethings made in canada or mexico rather then california if your from the east coast? the distance is the same or you have that kind of attitude where every1 your enemy. and even most americans you probaly consider your enemy like liberals and minorties so what does made in USA mean to you? made in USA trolls. do you even know what that means?
It's sad what racist scumbags that I have to call fellow Americans are. Just sickening.
Joe - no matter how many jobs come or go to India or the US or ANY place - you will always belong to the trailer park a couple of first cousins conceived you... I feel sorry for your existence.
Uhh.... maybe you missed the part where it said most of them were farmers? Sad that so many died.
Sounds like someone works for New Balance. People like you are the reason the rest of the world hates America. Shameful.
I am so sorry for those poor people.
Call your congressmen now, there is a bill in congress to bring back call center jobs. Please call in favor of the bill. There is alot of idenity theft done from overseas call center. Most people aren't aware of it. Sorry to write it here on such a sad story.
Getting on a ferry boat in India is right up there on the list of "worlds stupidest things to do".
Didn't this happen last year too?
Justen
Yeah, it's up there.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czpR7kU2PlQ&feature=related
This just goes to show a lack of government oversight and common sense .
Just keep the boats well maintained and add more boats to the Ferry Service . But what do I know . I'm just a land lover .
bob
India doesn't have many safety standards. It is a very poor country and most people are typically in survival mode.
At what point does the weather become a factor in shutting down the ferry? Clearly the weather was horrible. And I am sure that all the workers knew that it was over loaded. This is a time you can't blame mother nature, you blame it on bad decision making.
sam adams
Coming from someone who's only experience of India was watching 'Slumdog Millionaire"
Well as a Former US Navy Sailor. Its a tragedy that this happened. The loss of human life is never something to cheer. When traveling any body of water. Safety! Safety! Safety! But in this case the Ferry Master had no concern for that or human life. Just how many coins, bags of rice. chickens, pigs, etc he was getting in payment. No Ships Captain with any salt would of even traveled these waters with those weather conditions and complete lack of Lifeboats and Life Jackets. Yes these people are poor and in survival mode looking for better conditions. Well my heart and prayers go out to those who lost loved ones and the ones still possibly alive to be rescued safe and sound. A Sailors worse nightmare a vessel capsized, or inescapable ship board fire.
What about the use of common sense people? I know common sense is no longer used in the USA, but I was not aware this is the case world wide.
See boat, see boat is old and rickety, see boat has a lot of people and goods on it, see swollen river, see rain still falling very hard, see me not get on boat = common sense.
Whether you are poor, rich, or in between I can find no sympathy for those who sustain injury or death due to their own lack of or non-use of common sense.
I have spent plenty of time in India. every thing is crowded, it is a fact of life. It will rain hard every day from now till fall. There is no waiting for it to stop raining before you get on the boat.
It's easy to say how much common sense you all have but people need to get home. How many people here drive through roads that are flooded and get into trouble or even die. Don't comment on things you have no idea about. Very sad situation! What choice did they have? Sleep in the mud or get on the boat and try to get home. It sucks but it's called reality.
that might be their only means of getting place to place .
rasputin-1880817
Rob-1699252
sandra-3655706
Apparently the captains and passengers on other ferries engage their brains and use common sense or this type of calamity would be an everyday occurrence (rasputin-1880817) from now until fall. But it's not so don't even go there. As for people who drive their vehicles in dangerous weather conditions I feel the same way about them...lack of common sense. Nothing...no job, no airplane flight, no appointment, etc...should ever be put above the concern for loss of life when dangerous weather is happening.
this is a 1 time accident. i been on a ferry boat in india before. so is going to a plane or a roller coaster one of the most stupidest things to do? accident are rare but it happens. its scary also.
rc-4121998
This is NOT a 1 time accident. Next time do some research before commenting. Not doing so makes you appear ignorant.
There was nothing preventing some from waiting for the ferry to come back or waiting for another ferry.
Let me now complete the list of stupid things.
Driving in a car, because lot of people die in road accidents
doing scuba diving in god-forsaken places and getting attacked by sharks
sending your troops to Afghanistan and Iraq, in search of real and imaginary enemies
Costa Concordia
going to a school in the so called developed countries (after all some kid may have a gun)
The list is endless...
Try and get a fresh perspective into the issue, if you can't then silence is a better option. Most of these people would have travelled on the ferry out of compulsion, the places where they come from, travelling in overcrowded ferries in unfortunately a necessity. Not that I condone overcrowding, but desperate situation make people do strange things.
There are other born geniuses claiming that trains in India are equally risky, well, Indian train network has a six sigma rating for accidents.
not just getting on a ferry in India is the dumbest thing to do, but getting on it, overloaded, in a storm, crossing a storm swelled river, on an old boat hauling sacks of rice?? Instincts must have to be plainly worn down to dull. It reminds me, "Why didn't the chicken cross the freeway?" Because even a chicken knows it aint gonna make it.
I hope you people above feel superior. How pathetic of you! The only reason you did not have to get on an Indian ferry today is because of the place you were born. Give gratitude. Offer sympathy to those less fortunate.
Lighten up. You can laugh with the sinners or cry with the saints.
They run their trains the same way !!!!
Dopes haven't figured it out yet. Add more trains, buses, and ferry boats . That will relieve over crowding all way around . Real simple and easy problem to fix.
Seriously Mo5254, I'm not trying to sound cold. It's just that this is a frequent occurrence in India and it kind of takes the shock away. The first thing I thought when I saw this report was "What? Again?"
Yeah, another country that breeds like flies and rabbits, bursting at the seems with one billion less people than china has next door. Quit FR IGGIN and havin
I do have gratitude for my life, and sympathy for those who lost their lives.
But I have a low tolerance for stupidity. Getting on the ferry (was it overcrowded?) during a storm was not a wise thing to do.
I agree with you Mo5254. Not everyone is as lucky as we are to have the perspective that many of you think you have. Too bad you cannot walk a day in someone else's shoes..It makes me sad when people feel so superior and have a lack of caring...those types are the type that, perhaps are stupid...(which I hate the word stupid)...
Thanks Mo5254, I don't think many of them have the modern conveniences and luxury lifestyles that we are all too used to here. It's no wonder many other nationalities can't stand Americans. We are rude, non-sympathetic and have never had to handle hardships on a daily basis like many civilians in other countries do. Instead of making fun of the situation has anyone thought about saying a silent prayer for others who do not have our modern conveniences or better yet, try doing some missionary work somewhere else so you may too experience a day in the life of others less fortunate.
In Iraq our Supervisor assigned us the duties of Bus monitor because the India worker busses were always over-crowded,ie people hanging out the windows or in the entrance doorway, we had a hard time instructing them on the use of lines to board the bus in an oderly fashion and on bus passenger capacity, we did not have this same problem with the Philipino workers, every year you will continue to hear a story of a Ferry sinking, because of their atitudes, go to Kuwait and you see them on scaffords wearing sandals and no hard hats.
Adrienne from Ohio
Mo5254
I take offense at being ridiculed by you because I have a toilet instead of an outhouse. Just because I don't suffer the same type of hardship the average person does in India do not assume I don't suffer hardship on a daily basis. I suffer from physical and financial hardship every single day thanks to a drunk driver who didn't bother to have any car insurance. I'm not complaining or seeking sympathy from anyone, but I'm also not going to give sympathy to people who don't bother to engage their brains, use common sense, and think twice before getting on a boat under the conditions that they did. It's not rocket science after all, just common sense.
Yo Mo5254... there is no sympathy here for the Indians. I know I'm lucky to be an American, but hey 103 fewer Indians can only be good for the world.
mean mr mustard
Sgt. Peppers?
Get off your high horse. There's no lack of sympathy for those who lost lives, there's the realization that these people live under horrible conditions while the elite in their country who control things live it up. We're not responsible for this disaster. Most Americans WOULD speak out if one group were treated the way most Indians are.
i lived in india and i kind of liked it better then america. im stuggling in america to. i dont have a car, no job, been arrested twice the last 3 years for no reason. right now and all that stuff. in india not lot of money is required, less stirct rules so we can just live. i enjoy being outdoors the food is better, not hormones and chemicals like american food. but it all depends how your living in america and how bad your living in india. if your starving in india but have a home in america then yes, but if your locked up in america cuz america does have a very big police state, but if you have a place to live in india and eating then india is better. but anyway nice kind post. nice to read ur comment. something postive.
That is hilarious...homosexuals, blacks, native americans, jews, hispanics....all treated badly in our country and no one speaks out for them. You are a joke, AMERICAN=WHITE and RICH. We absolutely play a part in the conditions in these parts of the world...We exploit the @!$%# out of their workers for our companies. We can't even pay them a sufficient amount of money to actually sustain life and LIVE. We take all their resources and exploit the hell out their workers and we sit just fine and dandy knowing we payed the lowest price possible on a pair of jeans and not even a sixteenth of the profit made from that pair of jeans is given to the workers who made them. We globalized and industrialized the world and these are the consequences for carelessness and not preparing for it.
@mo5254 I'm taking delight in anyones misfortune and that includes where they have been born. The very images they see of the train wrecks draped with overloaded humans should be all the schooling or education that they can use, walking barefoot in cobra infected areas in the dark would be a better bet in making it where ever they're going. At least a cobra gives you a warning, and you can step back and walk around it.
@MO5254 that was a typo error!! I'm "not" taking delight!!! chock one up for me getting on that train today.
Alex Thompson
You didn't have any problem with filipinos crowding the buses. Great. You should know that boats capsize with many deaths due to poor weather conditions and crowding just as often in the Philippines.
Realist:
I suffer from physical and financial hardship every single day thanks to a drunk driver who didn't bother to have any car insurance.
And yet you still have no compassion.
Interaffairs
1) I find it difficult to have compassion when confronted with situations where people think and act with a herd or lemming mentality that results in injury or death instead of choosing to think and act for themselves.
2) After the accident I have a new outlook on life and death. Death is not something I fear or dread anymore, but look at it as more of a relief from the struggle to survive. I have faced the fact that living is hard and surviving is even harder.
Do not pity the dead, but pity the living instead.
I find it difficult to have compassion...
Yes, you made that clear in your previous posts.
The number of accidents they have in India sounds like someone is trying to do some population control.
This is an almost annual occurrence. I'm not sure why anybody gets on a ferry in that part of the world.
Perhaps it's a bucket list item? "Ride a ferry in India and survive."
El_Duderino
More people die in auto accidents per day in the US.
So should we not drive cars anymore?
Hell, drive on a highway in India and survive, do you realize what the DAILY death toll is due to the unsafe roadways and laws and civility that either aren't existent, followed or enforced?
Mrs C-whatever, I could also sit on an armchair and comment things about your driving skills without actually having seen you drive.
Have you actually gone on a highway in India? If yes, then you are contradicting your statement, if not, then why comment about things that you have not done? I have driven countless times and survived, its less about laws and more about using your head, and leaving some margin for others not using it.
Every time I see folks from over there, they put like 1,000 people in a 20 ft. ferry, more stupidity for you.
Well, if you lived somewhere with a billion people crammed into a country half the size of the US, most likely you'd have a hard time finding a seat anywhere.
help student loans are killing us.
Why should you get a student loan? You apparently aren't smart enough to know the topic of the discussion. You're a bad investment. Try community college or ITT Tech. You don't think you have to be able to read to get in there.
Damn, talk about lack of sympathy. People are dead and all the comments give in reply is "BUY USA" and "LOL." I doubt you'd react the same way if someone in your family died a painful death in a river. Doesn't matter how much it happened before.
Greed at its finest. The owners/operators of this ferry need to be prosceuted for every life needlessly lost. It seems common practice to try and pack as many paying passengers on ferry boats in this part of the world as possible.So reading about it in the news will continue to be common in days ahead. Until the government of India steps in and gets involved people will continue to die. Sad this loss of life that could have been avoided.
Well, that's not going to happen.
So sorry for the people, hope some may still be rescued.
If they would stop daming up that river and let it flow into Bangladesh they would not have such a raging river when it storms. Blame the Indian goverment for that problem.
Yeah... I wish someone would put an indian ferry like this one in Iselin
they were food for the River LOL
Amazing, not a single shred of sympathy for the lives lost. Shows what a low form of life you are! Maybe it's time to leave mom's basement to go outside and make a friend huh?
Tragic loss of life. Condolences to all that lost loved ones.
Well the bad thing about is; fairy boat, storm, river rising, HELLO!!!!! Where's the common sense.
It's sad out of dire poverty and harshness of life people are dying, at least not by drugs or some crazy shoot out.
And overpopulation.
Yes very sad news...
Have some sympathy - good hell people. So easy to criticize sitting here in a North America, in the most civilized/advance country in the world.
I've lived years in a 3rd world country, and I've got news for all of you critics. How we do things here is the EXCEPTION to the rule, rather than the 'norm'. Unless you lived elsewhere, there is absolutely NO WAY to comprehend how a large percentage of the world lives. None. You might think you know better, "how dumb could they be??", but you don't.
I'd venture to say if these people weren't going about their business that day, it's a high possibility their families wouldn't eat that day. That's my guess, and I could be wrong, but at least it's an educated guess that comes from years of experience.
I don't think anyone is so unsympathetic to these lost lives, they see this trajedy as preventable and as a direct cause of conditions created within within the country.
o v e r p o p u l a t i o n.
Why is it that is seems like once a month we read about some overloaded ferry in some 3rd world country that sinks with a huge loss of life? Instituting limits on the number of people that can board seems so simple. Guess when your so over populated you just don't care.
2 Words: DAMN SHAME!
Keyword: "OVERLOADED" double-decked ferry
Back to 2 Words: DAMN SHAME
Oh well, life goes on... no sweat off my back.
My heart goes out to them. Hope they find peace. At what point did they give up their right to choose? For Instance: World Trade Center September 11, 2001. One moment a man is working hard trying to make a living and the next moment all hell comes down on him. He runs to the roof top and finds he has a decision to make. Jump to his death from 110 stories up or Burn to death?? At what point in History was that decision made for him? When Bill Clinton refused to listen to Security Advisors and Osama Bin Laden?? When Bill Clinton shut down CIA and FBI operations?? When do you give up your right to choose??? Are we already being crowded on to a unsafe boat?? Has the Captain of our Ship got us into dangerous waters and refuses to turn around?? Are WE doomed because we cannot or will not speak up and declare to the Captain that this ship is unsafe??
Not for nothing....it is a tragedy. However, haven't we all been down this road before with these disasters in India?? We have all seen pictures of hundreds of Indians crammed into a bus. They are hanging out the windows, hanging onto the sides and riding on top of the bus. Their trains are the same hideous mess. This sems to be an annual occurrence.
Twenty or thirty years ago most Third World mishaps were bus plunges. Nowadays it's ferry sinkings.
I hope the people in America who are always whining and complaining about everything, the Mta, more regulations needed for whatever, the govt., will read this and realize how lucky they are.