In the second boat tragedy in Kerala in little over a month, eight school students drowned when a country boat capsized in Chaliyar river at Areekkod in the district today.
The victims, all class XI and XII students of SS Higher Secondary School at Moorkanad, were crossing the river to return home when the boat sank mid-way, police said.
Among the dead, one was a girl and seven were boys. The mishap occurred just a month after the state's worst tourism tragedy on September 30 when a double-decker boat with tourists capsized in Thekkady lake, claiming 45 lives.
Police said one boy was admitted to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. Joidina, a girl who swam ashore, said the country craft was operated by pulling ropes tied to poles on the banks of the river. She said the boat tilted suddenly, prompting the students to stand before the vessel capsized.
She said the system of using the rope was started a week ago as the river water level came down after the rainy season. The boat had about 35 students, who usually commute between their nearby village and the school as it provided a short-cut to reach home. Some swam to safety while others were rescued by local people. The bodies were recovered and brought to the Areekkod Government Hospital, police said.
Chief minister VS Achuthanandan has asked the district collector to submit a report on the incident. The labourers engaged in collecting sand from the river bed were the first to rush to the spot as darkness set in, hampering search operations.
Meanwhile, police said the authorities have decided against carrying out post-mortem and that the bodies of the children had been handed over to their families.
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