2023-05-08 03:40:02
NEW DELHI (AP) — A double-decker boat carrying at least 30 passengers capsized off a southern Indian beach Sunday night, killing more than 20 people, including children, local media reported.
“The boat is being towed to shore and more bodies are expected to be recovered from inside,” Sports Minister V Abdurahiman told the Press Trust of India news agency. Four people were hospitalized in critical condition, he added.
Among the dead were children who had gone out for a ride on the boat during their school holidays, the minister said.
It is currently unknown what caused the boat to capsize near Thoovaltheeram beach in Tanur, a coastal town in the state of Kerala, in the Malappuram district.
The state chief minister, who will visit the area on Monday, tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims and urged the district authorities to supervise the rescue efforts.
Monday was declared an official day of mourning, the government said in a statement, which was quoted by the news agency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said via Twitter that he was “saddened by the loss of life” and announced compensation for the families of the victims.
Boating accidents are common in India, where many travel overloaded and with inadequate safety equipment.
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