20 drown as 'overloaded' tourist boat with 30-­40 people sinks in Kerala

KOZHIKODE: At least 20 people were feared drowned when a “heavily overloaded” double-decker boat on an excursion capsized at Parappanangadi in Kerala’s Malappuram Sunday evening.
The boat was plying beyond the official deadline of 5pm when it sank around 7pm. Lack of light was hampering rescue efforts, officials said, hinting the toll could rise. Though the exact number of riders is not clear, sources said the boat had “30 to 40” people.
According to sources, since it was a Sunday during the summer holidays, many of the passengers were children. At least three women and four children were reportedly among the dead.
PM Narendra Modi has expressed deep shock at the tragedy and announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the families of the deceased.

“Pained by the loss of lives due to the boat mishap in Malappuram, Kerala,” Modi tweeted. CM Pinarayi Vijayan is expected to visit the tragedy site on Monday.

Tanur municipality chairman PP Shamudheen said the boat capsized at Thooval Theeram in Ottumbram, at the spot where the Poorapuzha river joins the Arabian Sea.
“The exact number of passengers on the boat is not known. However, everyone in the area says that it was heavily overloaded. It seems to have overturned after losing balance,” Shamsudheen told TOI.
Ports minister V Abdurahman, who was coordinating the rescue operations, said the backwaters in this area had heavy silt and rescue workers were still fishing people out of the water.

At least six persons were rescued initially and rushed to various hospitals in the area. A smaller boat first reached the spot where the mishap occurred and rescued a few passengers who were taken to hospitals in Tanur, Tirurangadi and other places. Sources said all hospitals in the area have been kept on alert with beds having ventilator facilities ready to treat victims who can be revived. By around 10.30 PM, rescue workers were able to haul the boat on to the land using ropes and bodies were recovered from the boat as well.
Kerala Tourism director P B Nooh said that challenges arise when new tourism destinations are developed as the department has no resources to ensure all tourism activities are carried out by licensed or trained people.
“District disaster management authority meeting convened in February this year had warned of illegal boat operations along Bharathapuzha and Chaliyar... It has warned of boat tragedies,” Nooh said.