13 killed, 1 missing as pilgrimage vessel capsizes in central Myanmar

YANGON–A total of 13 people were killed and one person was missing as a pilgrimage vessel capsized on Wednesday in Myanmar's Mandalay region, according to a release from the country's Home Affairs Ministry on Thursday.

The vessel with 25 pilgrims aboard overturned in Zeetaw (Sar Taung) Dam while traveling to a monastery near the dam in Mahlaing township on Wednesday morning.

The release said that 11 people were rescued unharmed and 13 bodies were recovered from water a few hours after the capsizal.Search and rescue operations for the missing one is underway.

The helmsman, who fled the scene after being rescued alive, was charged by the township police for rash navigation of vessel and causing death by negligence, the release said.