Officials confirmed Monday that at least 22 people perished when a tourist boat overturned in India, with the majority of those on board believed to be children.
It was unclear why a double-decker boat carrying at least 30 people capsized late Sunday in Kerala’s Malappuram district.
Dozens of people spent the night searching for survivors in and around the wrecked vessel, which was partially submerged, and the search resumed on Monday.
Some used ropes to help stabilize the boat, while others were in the water, urgently searching for survivors through the vessel’s windows.
“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 told AFP.
According to the local newspaper Onmanorama, the disaster killed 11 people from one family, including three children.
Rajisa, who was on the boat with her husband and daughter, told the outlet that the majority of the passengers were children and that smoke was flowing from the boat during the ride.
“We survived only because we were wearing life jackets,” Rajisa, who bruised her neck after hitting the boat, was quoted as saying.
Three life jackets were delivered to her and her family, she added, while four jackets were distributed 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 told Onmanorama.
“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,” she said.
According to NDTV, rescue crews, including members of the National Disaster Response Force and the Indian Coast Guard, are utilizing underwater cameras to seek for individuals who are still missing.
VD Satheesan, a state leader from the opposition Congress party, labeled the catastrophe “man-made” and demanded an investigation.
“Nobody even knows if the boat had a licence or not,” he told reporters on Monday.
According to media sources, a complaint has been filed against the boat’s owner for possible responsible homicide.
V. Abdurahiman, Kerala’s sports and fisheries minister, who was assisting in the coordination of rescue efforts, claimed the most of the victims were children on vacation.
According to the police, there were approximately 30 individuals on board.
However, NDTV stated that 40 passengers had tickets, despite the fact that there were many others on the ship who did not.
According to the Press Trust of India, Abdurahiman stated that four individuals were rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
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“Pained by the loss of lives due to the boat mishap in Malappuram, Kerala. Condolences to the bereaved families,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, adding that relatives would be compensated.
