The surviving passengers, aboard a boat that capsized in Mangdechhu, say the rope tied to the boat broke causing the boat to topple. The rope was tied to the boat up to the bank for safety.
“The rope that was used was new,” said the Boatman, Rinchen. “I don’t know how the rope broke. We have been ferrying people in this area for four months.”
One of the survivors, Ugyen Tsering, recounts being thrown into the river. “I was washed away a few kilometres downstream. After much struggle, I could swim ashore.”
Another survivor, Karma Dorji, he was washed away downstream for about two kilometers. He managed to hold onto a rock until the rescue team arrived. The rescue team arrived after about an hour.
Meanwhile, the rescue team continues to look for the six missing passengers for the fourth day, today. Of the 18 on-board, six drowned and six were rescued. Four survivors are undergoing treatment at Yebilaptsa hospital.
They are said to be in is a stable condition.
