An Indian Navy official said on Monday that eight people died, one went missing and 17 people were rescued after a ferry boat capsized in the southern state of Karnataka.

Earlier, navy spokesman D.K. Sharma had tweeted on the official Twitter that 16 persons died and their bodies were recovered by the Indian Navy and India Coast Guard (ICG) assets. In another tweet, Sharma stated that the ferry boat capsized with 24 people onboard.

Subsequently, an official communication from the Indian Navy clarified that the ill-fated boat carried a total of 26 people. Eight dead bodies were recovered and 17 persons were safely rescued while one was still missing.

"Of the 26 persons reported to have been in the boat, 17 people were immediately rescued by other civil boats operating in the area. Eight bodies have been recovered by the naval units. Search is on for the one person still missing," said the Indian Navy communication.

"A boat ferrying 26 devotees from the offshore island of Kurumgarh to Rabindranath Tagore Beach near Karwar capsized at about 15:00 on Jan. 21," it said.

The Indian Navy dispatched two helicopters and two fast interceptor crafts to the area for search and rescue. Diving teams from Karwar Naval Area had also been deployed.