At least nine people were killed and 17 others rescued after fishing boat carrying tourists capsized in Bay of Bengal off Tamil Nadu coast. According to a government official, rescue operations are underway. The incident occurred near Manappadu area of Tuticorin. The cause of the accident is yet to be determined. "Nine persons lost their lives and 19 were rescued when a boat capsized off Manapadu coast. Three families from Tiruchendur seems to have booked the boat," District Collector M. Ravi Kumar told IANS. The official added that those rescued were admitted to private and government hospitals in the district. When asked about reports that boat was carrying people in excess of its capacity, Kumar said only a detailed investigation would throw light on the incident. An official in the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Service in Tuticorin said that among the dead were some children. This is the first major boat accident in Tamil Nadu after the one that occurred at Pulicat lake on December 25, 2011 killing 22 persons. With inputs from IANS
