At least 40 farm labourers were feared drowned on Wednesday when an overcrowded boat in which they were travelling got caught in a whirlpool and sank in the swollen Gandak River in Bihar's West Champaran district.

The labourers were crossing the river in connection with their work when the boat caught in the whirlpool.

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Divers had been pressed into service to fish out bodies. Senior police and civil officials were camping at the site.

Seven bodies have been fished out with the help of locals, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Bagaha) Arvind Thakur and Sub-Divisional Officer (Bagaha) Jayant Kumar told PTI.