Malappuram (Kerala): At least 18 people feared dead, including women and children, when a boat carrying a group of tourists capsized at Kettungal beach in Kerala on Sunday evening. The accident took place at around 7.30 pm in Parapanangadi of Malappuram district. According to sources, more than 25 people were in the boat.
As per the preliminary information, the accident was caused due to overcrowding. The death toll is likely to increase, said sources. The rescue operations are going on at the spot. Health Minister Veena George directed the director of the health department to provide treatment and make adequate arrangements for those injured in the boat accident.
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Many of the injured have been admitted to hospitals in Parappanangadi, Thanur, Tirur and Tirurangadi, official sources said. The police asked the public to cooperate without going to the accident site as the huge crowd and vehicles hamper the rescue operation.
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According to information gathered by an RTI activist, as many as 10,451 people have died of drowning in Kerala between 2016 and 2021 with 8,169 lives lost in accidents and 2,282 in suicides. The information was revealed by the State Crime Records Bureau in response to a Right to Information (RTI) petition filed by activist Raju Vazhakkala.
Thrissur lost the largest number of lives in drowning with Thrissur city accounting for 471 casualties and rural 702 Ernakulam, followed by 1,109 casualties, with the city and rural limits accounting for 381 and 728 lives respectively. In the Kollam district, 1,023 people drowned, with 532 in the city and 491 in rural limits.
