Twenty one persons were feared killed owing to drowning in river Barakar between Barbendia in Nirsa block of Dhanbad and Shyampore Birgaon of Jamtara district on Thursday.

The tragedy took place when the boat they were travelling on from Nirsa in Dhanbad to Jamtara sank into the river this evening. Senior officials of the district administration of Jamtara district and police led by DC Faiz Aq Ahmed Mumtaz and Jamtara SP Deepak Sinha which reached the bank of the river Barakar at Shyampore Birgaon of Jamtara have launched rescue operations with the help of local divers following which three dead bodies have so far been recovered.

The incident took place at around 5.30 pm about 90 km away from Dhanbad due to heavy rains and storms that lashed different parts of the state this evening. Local residents said that majority of the 25 persons on the boat were daily wage earners of Shyampore Birgaon and were returning home after work

Meanwhile, four persons have been rescued by the divers pressed into service while search operation is still going on. Jamtara district administration led by DC Faiz Aq Ahmed Mumtaz has also called for NDRF and a team of NDRF is likely to reach at site by midnight from Deoghar

Meanwhile irate residents of Shyampore Birgaon also gheraoed the police and administration teams in Jamtara charging them of laxity on the rescue front.

Jamtara MLA Irfan Ansari who also reached the spot assured the family members. Mumtaz, while talking to media said, Rescue work is going on in full swing and four persons have also been rescued by our team. "We have also called the NDRF team which is likely to reach by late night," further said Mumtaz.