Click to play videoThatekadu (Kerala): It was meant to be a fun ride for the children of St Anthony's school, Elavoor in Ernakulam district but it ended in a tragedy that claimed at least 18 lives.
“Water entered the boat but the boat was not overcrowed. Many children lost their balance and fell out,” said a teacher at St Anthony School.
Among the dead are 15 children and three teachers. All the children are below ten years.
“My sir said he saw water entering the boat from the front then suddenly there was water all around. I had to jump out,” said a student of St Anthony School.
About 100 students and staff left the school for the picnic on the Tuesday morning. They went for the boat ride by evening after visiting the Thattekad bird sanctuary.
The tragedy struck when one of the three boats the group boarded capsized in the Periyar river.
Rescue operations were hampered by poor visibility and lack of equipment. But nineteen people were taken safely ashore by the late night.
(With inputs from Abhirr VP)
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