NEW DELHI -- A boat carrying 40 school children capsized in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Dahanu in the western Indian state of Maharashtra Saturday, officials said.

"Thirty-two children have been rescued so far and the remaining are still missing," a local police official said.

Local TV channels, however, reported that four school children died. But there has been no official confirmation on the death toll so far.

The Indian Coast Guard has diverted ships and pressed an aircraft and two choppers into rescue operations, the official said.

"Overloading is said to be the cause of the mishap. A probe has been ordered," he added.