At least 21 individuals drowned after a double-decker vacationer boat capsized in India’s southern state of Kerala, native authorities have stated.

The boat, which was carrying about 40 inbound passengers, overturned off the coastal city of Tanur as a result of it was overcrowded, stated Abdul Nazar, Malappuram district’s junior superintendent of police.

He stated about 10 passengers had been being handled in varied hospitals.

The loss of life toll was more likely to rise because the boat was caught in muddy waters and was being pulled out to rescue these trapped inside, Kerala’s minister for fisheries and harbour growth, V Abdurahiman, instructed reporters.

He stated a lot of the victims had been youngsters on faculty holidays. Four individuals had been taken to hospital in a essential situation, he stated, the PTI information company reported.

Survivors instructed native media that most of the passengers weren’t sporting life jackets.

The incident within the Malappuram district happened at about 7pm native time on Sunday and a group from the National Disaster Response Force was on the website, a Kerala State Disaster Management Authority spokesperson stated.

“Pained by the loss of lives due to the boat mishap in Malappuram, Kerala,” Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, stated in a tweet.

With Agence France-Presse