NEW DELHI - More than 50 policemen were feared to have been drowned to death in a 40-meter deep reservoir in the Indian state of Orissa Sunday morning as the boat ferrying them came under gunfire by Naxalites from a hill, NDTV reported.

The incident took place in Alampetta village in Malkangiri district of the state when some 64 police of the elite Greyhound Force were on their way to Chitrakonda in the state by a boat for a joint operation against the Naxalites.

Of the 64 on board, eight managed to swim ashore with bullet injuries on them after the boat capsized.

A search operation has been under way to trace the missing policemen. The search team recovered some police caps from the 40-meter deep reservoir named Balimela.