Around two dozen people are missing after the swollen Lalbakaiya river swept away a boat at Tikuliyaghat in Gaur Municipallity-4, Rauta-hat, on Saturday evening.

Residents claimed there were more than 40 people on board when the boat capsized around 7 pm. Fifteen people, including five women, survived the accident by swimming ashore, said police.

The boat was returning to Tikuliyaghat from Banjaraha. The Lalbakaiya river is swollen beyond the danger mark following torrential rains in the area for the past two days.

The site is around 5 km west of Gaur, the district headquarters, and 2 km north of the Nepal-India border. Superintendent of Police Kedar Dhakal said he suspects around two dozen people to be missing in the tragedy.

There is speculation the missing people were taken to the Indian border. Dhakal said they are in touch with the Indian authorities.

Chief District Officer Govinda Prasad Rijal said, “We have mobilised security personnel. Search is on using all available resources.”

Security personnel from Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force reached the incident site. They could not start rescue work because of darkness.