At least 22 people died in the sinking of a boat carrying tourists late Sunday in the southern state of Kerala, local police told AFP.
“We found 22 bodies, 15 women and 7 men. There were about six people in the hospital. Rescue operations are underway,” a police officer from Tanur station, a coastal town in the Malappuram district where the tragedy occurred, told AFP.
According to him, there were nearly 30 passengers on board.
Dozens of people worked overnight around and in the partially submerged wreck. While some stabilized the ship with ropes, others watched through the portholes, looking for survivors.
“Saddened by the loss of life following the boat accident in Malappuram, Kerala. (All) my condolences to the bereaved family,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, promising compensation to the next of kin of each victim.
Most of the victims were children on school holidays, said V. Abdurahiman, Kerala state sports minister, who is helping to coordinate rescue efforts.
Four people were taken to hospital in critical condition, Abdurahiman told news agency PTI.
Survivors testified to the local press, observing that many of the passengers were not wearing life jackets.
The reason the ship capsized is still unknown at this time.
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