Jabalpur:
Four persons drowned and three others, including a father and his son, are missing as a boat carrying them capsized in river Narmada near here today, the police said.
The boat was carrying 25 persons, of which 18 were rescued, the police said.
The mishap occurred when the victims were enjoying a boat-ride.
A team of 12 divers are searching for those missing.
The police said a case of alleged criminal negligence has been filed against the boatman as the boat was carrying more people than its capacity. The boatman is absconding.
Madhya Pradesh Animal Husbandry Minister Ajay Vishnoi announced a reward of Rs 2000 each for the divers for rescuing the people.
The family members of the deceased will be given a financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh each, the minister said.
Vishnoi has asked the authorities to stop the release of Bargi dam water downstream where the search is on for the three missing persons.