Two people have died and five others have been rescued after a boat carrying pilgrims capsized off the Gurunagar Jetty in Jaffna today (6).

Hospital sources said that three of the individuals who were rescued and admitted to hospital remain in critical condition.

According to initial reports, the vessel had been carrying 25 pilgrims when it capsized shortly after setting out from the Gurunagar Jetty towards Palaitivu.

Search and rescue operations are currently underway to locate the remaining 15 individuals who are still missing.