Reuters AlertNet Lite - Death toll hits 18 from Indian school outing

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Death toll hits 18 from Indian school outing

21 Feb 2007 05:26:53 GMT
Source: Reuters

NEW DELHI, Feb 21 (Reuters) - The bodies of five more children were pulled from a river in southern India on Wednesday, bringing to 18 the number of dead from a school picnic that turned into tragedy.

Police said more than 50 students and teachers -- none wearing life jackets -- were packed on a boat designed to carry no more than 35 people when it tipped them into the Periyar river in Kerala state.

"Water was seeping into the boat so all the children moved to one side of the boat, making it capsize from the imbalance," R.A. Chandrasekhar, a state police officer, told Reuters by phone.

Local new channels showed the bodies of drowned schoolgirls dressed in red checkered dresses laid out in a crowded hospital ward filled with distraught relatives and friends.

Three of those drowned were teachers.

The accident happened in Thattekad Wildlife Sanctuary, a popular tourist spot about 55 km (35 miles) east of the commercial hub of Ernakulam. Most of the children were between eight and 12 years old.

The boat's captain fled the scene after the accident and is missing.

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Last updated:Wed Feb 21 05:27:47 2007