16 picnickers die in Tamil Nadu boat capsize

Ramanathapuram, (Tamil Nadu) : At least 16 people drowned, majority of them women, after a country boat ferrying them sank in mid-sea off Periyapattinam coastal village in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, coastal police said.

The ramshackle boat, fitted with an outboard engine sunk quickly drowning 16, ten of them women. The victims include an Australian NRI woman, but details were awaited.

Police said a group of people, hailing from Periyapattinam coastal village who came here for a marriage were on a picnic to Vaazhai Theevu, an island, police said.

When the two boats neared the island, one of them capsized due to rough sea.

Police said some 11 bodies were fished out and being brought to the village.

The district administration sought the assistance of Indian Coast Guard for rescue operation, Marine’s deputy superintendent of police Thiagarajan said.

It was not known how many picnickers were on the doomed boat.