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28 die as tourist boat capsizes in southern India

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-10-01 01:13

NEW DELHI: A boat carrying 75 tourists capsized on a reservoir in southern India on Wednesday, killing at least 28 people and leaving dozens missing, police said.

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The state-owned boat was traveling in the remote Thekkady forest area in Kerala state and capsized after the tourists rushed to one side as they spotted some animals in the forest, tilting the vessel over, said police officer R. Rajesh.

Rescuers have fished out 28 bodies from the reservoir and were looking for 27 other missing tourists, police officer Rajesh told The Associated Press.

Rajesh also said 20 people have been rescued so far and taken to the hospital.

Most of the tourists were from the neighboring state of Karnataka, he told The Associated Press.

The site of the accident is nearly 1,300 miles (2,100 kilometers) south of New Delhi. Kerala is a popular tourist destination for both Indians and foreigners with luxury resorts on the sparkling backwaters.

Boat accidents are common in India, where many vessels are unsafe and overloaded.