At least 11 Hindu worshippers drowned when their boat capsized during a religious celebration on a lake in central India.
Five people were rescued from the lake in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh state, police said.
The boat tilted and capsized early on Friday while the worshippers were immersing a big idol of the Hindu god Ganesh in the lake, police officer Akhil Patel said.
He said 11 bodies were recovered from the lake.
The immersion of the idol is part of the celebrations of Hindu festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, the birthday of Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed son of Lord Shiva and the goddess Parvati. Ganesh is the symbol of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.
Boats are often overloaded which lead to frequent accidents in India. Most boats operate in rural areas without life jackets.
