At least 21 people died when a double-decker tourist boat capsized in India's southern state of Kerala. Photo: AFP
At least 21 people have died after a packed tourist boat capsized in India's southern Kerala state.
The death toll could rise as rescue efforts are under way and the vessel is pulled from muddy waters.
Overcrowding caused the double-decker boat to capsize Malappuram district police junior superintendent Abdul Nazar told Reuters.
The boat was reportedly carrying about 50 people, or double its capacity, when it overturned on Sunday night.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on Twitter, saying he was "pained by the loss of lives".
Many passengers were trapped under the boat and the darkness held back rescue efforts, according to local media. The casualties included women and children on school holiday.
At least four people who were taken to hospital are in critical condition, Kerala's sports and fisheries minister V Abdurahiman said.
Many of the passengers were not wearing life jackets at the time of the incident, survivors told local media.
The exact number of missing passengers was not immediately clear.
Authorities were investigating the cause of the incident.
- BBC