Indus Valley Times

KERAL,MAY 8 : At least 22 people, most of them children, drowned after a houseboat carrying around 40 passengers capsized at the Tanur area of Kerala’s Malappuram on Sunday evening.

According to the district administration, the death toll now stands at 22. As per Minister V Abdurahiman, 7 people are in critical condition.

More people are believed to be trapped under the boat. The efforts are on to bring the capsized boat to the shore.

The rescue operations, with the help of fire services personnel and voluntary workers, are underway.

According to Police, the incident occurred around 7 PM. But the exact cause of the accident was not known at present.

         Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia for Rs 2 lakh from national relief fund for families of the victims.

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Pained by the loss of lives due to the boat mishap in Malappuram, Kerala. Condolences to the bereaved families. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be provided to the next of kin of each deceased,” PM Modi said in a tweet.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also issued a statement condoling the deaths and directed the Malappuram District Collector to carry out a coordinated emergency rescue operation. The CM has cancelled all official programmes and will travel to Tanur tomorrow morning.

Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman, who is coordinating the rescue operations along with Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas, told PTI that most of the deceased were children who had come for a ride amid ongoing school vacations.

-PTI