At least 22 people died when a tourist boat capsized in India, officials said yesterday, with many of those on board thought to be children.
It was not clear why the boat carrying at least 30 people tipped over in Kerala state’s Malappuram District late on Sunday.
Dozens of people searched for survivors in and around the stricken vessel all night, which was partially submerged, and the search continued into yesterday.
Photo: AFP
Some used ropes to stabilize the boat, while others were in the water, desperately looking inside the vessel’s windows for any survivors.
“We have recovered 22 bodies, including 15 females and seven males. There are around six people in the hospital. Rescue operations are on,” a police officer said.
It was reported that 11 people from one family, including three children, had died in the accident.
Rajisa, who was on the boat with her husband and daughter, said that most of the passengers on board were children and that there was smoke coming from the boat during the journey.
“We survived only because we were wearing life jackets,” Rajisa, who bruised her neck after hitting the boat, was quoted as saying.
She said three life jackets were brought to her and her family, and four jackets were given to children on the boat’s top deck.
“The boat swerved sometime after it set sail. Everyone was thrown off to one side as the boat wobbled,” she said. “I fell before my child and sank into the water. The boat overturned on top of the people who had fallen into the water. There were mostly children on the boat.”
Broadcaster NDTV said rescue teams, including personnel from the National Disaster Response Force and the Indian Coast Guard, were using underwater cameras to look for those still missing.
A case has been registered against the boat’s owner for alleged culpable homicide, reports said.
Kerala Minister of Sports and Fisheries V. Abdurahiman, who was helping to coordinate rescue efforts, said most of the victims were children on school holidays. Police said that there were about 30 people on board, but NDTV reported that 40 people had tickets, although there were many others on the vessel who did not.
“Pained by the loss of lives due to the boat mishap in Malappuram, Kerala. Condolences to the bereaved families,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on Twitter, adding that the families would receive compensation.
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