Eight dead, one missing as ferry capsizes off south India

Eight people have died and one is missing off the coast of south India, after a boat on which they were travelling capsized today (January 21) near Karwar.

The boat, carrying 26 people travelling to a temple on a remote island, capsized on its return, with initial reports from the Indian Navy claiming 16 dead, but later estimates revised this figure to only eight.

"We are locating others by air and surface assets. Dornier aircraft also being launched from Goa as bodies drifted seawards," Indian Navy said in a statement.

Indian Navy, which has a base nearby, was pressed for the rescue operation, which is still underway.