At least 23 Hindu devotees were killed and dozens went missing as an overloaded shallow-engine driven boat capsized in river Karatoa at Awliar ghat under Boda upazila in Panchagarah district on Sunday afternoon.

Panchagarah superintendent of police confirmed the news. Identities of the victims could not be known immediately.

He said that the police and the fire service divers had been conducting the rescue operations.

The capsize took place at about 2:30pm when the Hindu devotees had been returning after enjoying a programme marking Malalaya, a pre-Durga Puja programme, he said.

He said that they recovered bodies of 12 people from the spot immediately after the capsize, four victims were found dead at nearby areas of the spot and seven other sick people died at Panchagarah General Hospital until 4:30pm.