Dramatic Escape: Tourists Survive Sinking Houseboat in Kumarakom

Two couples from Uttar Pradesh had a narrow escape when their houseboat sank at Kumarakom. The incident occurred early Friday due to suspected hull leakage. Prompt evacuation by the crew saved the tourists, who were moved to another boat. Authorities are investigating potential technical issues on the vessel.

In a dramatic turn of events, two tourist couples from Uttar Pradesh narrowly escaped disaster when their houseboat sank early Friday morning in Kumarakom. According to police reports, the incident occurred while the houseboat was docked at Cheepunkal, where crew members detected water entering the vessel around 3 AM.

Demonstrating remarkable presence of mind, the crew swiftly evacuated the tourists, transferring them to a safer location on another boat. This quick action occurred moments before the houseboat sank completely, around thirty minutes after the initial distress signal.

Authorities suspect a hull leakage may have led to the accident, and an official investigation is underway to determine whether the boat was operated with existing technical problems, thereby compromising tourist safety. Regulations mandate that houseboats in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts remain docked overnight, with all tourists on board.

(With inputs from agencies.)