8 students drown at Malappuram district in Kerala (update)

Malappuram, Kerala, Nov 4 : In a tragic incident, eight students, including a girl, drowned when the overcrowded countryboat in which they were crossing the Chaliyar River capsized at Moorkanad in Malappuram District of North Kerala this evening.

Police said seriously injured student Jithin was rushed to the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

Police said the victims, Class 11 and 12t students of S S Higher Secondary School, were returning home when the mishap occurred at Areekode Moorkanad School Kadavu around 1700 hrs.

The deceased were identified as Thaiba of Kozhakootur, Thoufiq of Palapatta, Shamim of Iruvessy, Shihab of Velleri, Siraj of Kuriyil, Sohail of Perumparambu, Mushfik of Kizhsseri and Shahid Ali of Kozhakootur.

It was believed about 40 students were travelling in the boat. A majority of them swam to safety when the boat capsized in the middle of the river.

Joytha, who was the first to reach the shore from the ill-fated boat told a television channel the boat was overcrowded today following cancellation of a transport bus on the route. She said though the oarsman asked some of the students to get down, they refused to do so. Since a boat journey would reduce the distance by road between Moorkad and Arekode by seven km, everyone insisted they cross the river in that trip itself.

She said there were some six to seven girls in the ill-fated boat and except one, others were rescued by boys.

All of them were Plus One and Plus Two students of the school.

State Education Minister M A Baby rushed to the spot to coordinate rescue and relief operations.

Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan directed the district collector to inquire into the matter and submit a report at the earliest.

The accident occurred close on the heels of a boat tragedy at Thekkadi recently which claimed the lives of 45 tourists.

--UNI

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