The mishap occurred as an overcrowded boat carrying about 35 to 40 people from Dhauri village in Bhojpur district to Masarwa village in neighbouring Arwal district capsized in mid-stream, Superintendent of Police (SP) M R Naik said.
Eight persons met a watery grave, while three others were feared missing, he said, adding four others were rescued by divers and taken to a hospital for treatment.
At least six swam to safety, while the fate of the remaining occupants of the ill-fated boat was not known as yet, the SP said.
The National Disaster Relief Team (NDRF) divers from Patna have rushed to the spot to supervise rescue and search operations, Naik said.
The occupants of the boat were going to take part in a fair in Masarwa village in Arwal district, he said.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed grief over the boat tragedy and announced ex-gratia of Rs. Two lakhs to the kin of those dead in the incident comprising Rs. 1.50 lakh each from the disaster relief fund and Rs. 50,000 each from the Chief Minister's Relief fund.
