Malappuram (Kerala), Nov 4 (IANS) Eight schoolchildren were drowned Wednesday when the boat they were going in capsized in Kerala’s Chaliyar river, officials said.
The victims included six boys and two girls of the Moorkanand Higher Secondary School near Aarikode in Malappuram, around 25 km from Kozhikode.

The students were crossing the river after the school closed for the day. The boat had about 30 people on board and it capsized in the middle of the river at 4.45 p.m.

The casualties could have been higher but people ferrying sand from the river began rescue work immediately, saving several children.

Four children, who were initially reported missing, returned home and one injured student has been admitted to the Kozhikode Medical College hospital, a district official said.

On Sep 30, a boat had capsized in Kerala’s Thekkady lake, killing 45 tourists.