Saran, November 2: Three more persons were pulled out from the Saryu River in Bihar's Saran district on Thursday, taking the total number of rescued people to 13 in the boat tragedy a day before, an official said. The toll remained unchanged at two as no new body was recovered, Saran District Magistrate Aman Samir said.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed sorrow over the boat capsize incident.

He announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of each deceased and directed the authorities concerned to speed up the rescue operation. Bihar Boat Capsize: Rescue Operation On, Two More Pulled out from Saryu River.

"The CM announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased. He extended condolences to the families of the deceased," said the statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). "So far, 13 people have been rescued, including those who managed to swim to the river bank. Rescue operation is still on to trace the four missing persons," Samir told PTI.

The two deceased were women and identified as Phool Kumari and Chatthiya Devi. They were residents of Matiyar village. The boat with 19 people on board capsized in the river on Wednesday evening near Matiyar Ghat in Manjhi block. Bihar Boat Capsize Video: Two Drown, Seven Missing After Boat Capsizes in Saran.

This was the second major incident of boat capsize in the state in the recent past. More than 15 children were feared drowned after a boat carrying them capsized in the Bagmati River in Muzaffarpur district in September.