Authorities say at least 22 people, including children, have drowned after a boat capsized in southern India.
The double-decker ship capsized off a beach close to Tanur, a coastal town in Kerala’s Malappuram district, while it was carrying more than 30 passengers, reports Sky News,
According to the police, it was busy when there were problems at around 7 p.m. local time on Sunday, with local media reporting that Nazar Pattarakath, the owner of the yacht, has been charged with a crime.
About 10 passengers were taken to hospital for treatment, with four of those in critical condition.
Officials said they feared that some people might be still missing, with most of the passengers identified as tourists.
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on social media, saying that he is “pained by the loss of lives due to the boat mishap in Malappuram, Kerala.”
Modi also announced compensation for the victims’ relatives.
The dead included children who had come for a ride on the boat during their school holidays, Kerala’s sports minister Abdurahiman said.
The minister told reporters that the boat was stuck in the muddy waters and attempts were being made to pull it out.
“The boat is being hauled ashore and more bodies are expected to be recovered from inside,” he told the Press Trust of India news agency.
According to a representative for Kerala State Disaster Management Authority, a team from the National Disaster Response Force was present at the scene. The rescue effort also included the Indian Coast Guard.
Meanwhile, local media reports that Monday has been declared a day of official mourning.
In India, boating accidents are prevalent with many of the cases bordering on a lack of proper safety equipment. In the southern state of Andhra Pradesh in September 2020, 12 persons perished when a touring boat capsized on the overflowing Godavari River.
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