Houseboat capsizes in Vembanad lake, passengers safely rescued

Alappuzha: A houseboat encountered a mishap and sank in Chithira backwater, a section of Vembanad lake, on Monday. All passengers aboard the boat, three individuals from Tamil Nadu, were successfully rescued with the aid of a nearby speedboat.

Preliminary findings suggest that the boat might have struck a sandbar, leading to its submersion. Being an older houseboat, it is believed that the impact caused the plank to become dislodged, allowing water to enter gradually until it eventually sank.

The houseboat involved in the accident was named "Relaxing Kerala" and was owned by Chandy Philip; another individual named Anas operated the boat under a lease agreement.

Following a previous incident in Tanur, Alappuzha houseboats underwent thorough inspections.