Thekkady: Kerala Boat Capsize Death Toll Climbing

Continuing to spiral in tandem, with rising concerns over the safety of backwater cruises provided to tourists, the death toll in the Wednesday boat capsize in the Thekkady lake of Kerala is now reported to be inching closer to thirty.

In arguably the worst-ever tourism disaster in the state, PTI news agency confirmed the death of 25 of the 74 tourists on-board the KTDC vessel and said that some 40 people had been brought to safety.

The condition of several of those is reported to be critical, giving rise to fears of a further surge in the death toll over the night.

Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan has said that a high-level inquiry would be held into the causes behind the sinking.