The 2010 West Bengal Ferry Sinking was an incident which occurred on Saturday, 30 October 2010, when an over-crowded ferry carrying Muslim pilgrims sank after hitting a sand bank on the Bhagirathi River in the Indian state of West Bengal.
[3] Thus far at least 74 bodies have been recovered, with many more missing, feared swept downstream.
[4] The ferry, which had a listed capacity of 60,[5] capsized and sank in rough waters whilst ferrying Muslim pilgrims back from a religious festival down the Bhagirathi River.
[6] The Indian Navy was called in to help with the rescue, with Navy divers and local fishermen helping to rescue survivors from the river as well as collect deceased bodies.
[7][8] A protest was staged on a jetty near the accident site by frustrated locals who believe the government was too slow to react to help with the disaster,[9] despite the Navy's committing a helicopter as well as personnel to help look in case against all likelihood there are more survivors.