KATHMANDU, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two people died and three people went missing while 24 others survived after a boat capsized Saturday in Lalbakaiya River in Rautahat district of Southeastern Nepal, local authorities involved in the rescue operation said here on Sunday.

Chief District Officer of Rautahat, Govinda Rijal, told Xinhua that 24 people were found survived in the incident that took place at Tekauliya Ghat in the swollen Lalbakaiya River.

"Twenty-four people came to contact with the local administration on Sunday morning, who survived by swimming ashore. We have recovered the two bodies from near the crash site," said Rijal, adding that three people have still gone missing.

The ill-fated boat hit a pillar of an under-construction bridge in Lalbakaiya River and toppled.

Rescuers confirmed on Sunday that the number of people aboard was 29.

"Initially, we could not ascertain the exact number of missing people as we were not clear about how many people were on board the boat," Rijal said from the crash site, which is located 110 km southeast of the capital Kathmandu.

Due to rainfall, rivers in Nepal have gone swollen over the past weeks.?