At least 40 missing after river ferry capsizes in India

At least 40 passengers are missing after a river ferry capsized in heavy winds in rural southwest India, officials said.

Andhra Pradesh home minister Nimmakayala Chinarajappa said 20 people managed to swim to safety after the ferry flipped over on Tuesday evening on the Godavari river but others, including people travelling to a wedding, were still missing.

Local fishermen rushed to rescue survivors, and officials deployed police and a team from the National Disasters Response Force to the scene.

But the search was slowed by poor communications in the area and the fall of darkness. – AP