COCHIN: Twenty people drowned after a boat capsized off the coastal town of Tanur, in India’s southern state of Kerala, on Sunday.

The death toll was likely to rise as the boat was stuck in muddy waters and was being pulled out to rescue those trapped inside, Kerala’s minister for fisheries and harbour development Abdurahiman told reporters.

The minister said 12 bodies had been identified so far.

The incident in the Malappuram district of the state took place around 7pm local time and a team from India’s disaster response force was at the site, a spokesperson said.

“Pained by the loss of lives due to the boat mishap in Malappuram, Kerala,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet.­

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2023