22 die when tourist boat sinks in India

According to local news channel NDTV, the boat carrying tourists sank in the southern Malappuram region of Kerala at 7:00 p.m. local time.

Moosa Vadakkethil, one of the Malappuram fire department officials, said in a statement that rescue efforts were launched after the boat sank. Vadakkethil indicated that the bodies of 22 people have been found, 7 of whom are children, and that search and rescue work continues.

Noting that the crash survivors were crowded together, Vadakkethil said they thought there were more than 30 people on the boat.

Vadakkethil noted that there were many survivors from the capsized boat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a statement that he was saddened by those who lost their lives.

Modi conveyed his condolences to those who lost their family members in the accident and announced that compensation will be paid.
Kerala State Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan expressed his condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives in the incident in a post on his Twitter account.

On the other hand, it was said that the exact number of people on the boat is not known, but there were also passengers without a ticket, although tickets were issued for 40 people. The news said that the boat did not have a safety certificate. (AA)