International Desk : At least 22 people have been killed when a houseboat with more than 30 passengers on board capsized and sank near a beach in Indian state Kerala's Malappuram, the state government said.

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The incident occurred on Sunday evening near an estuary close to the Thoovaltheeram beach in Tanur, the police said.

Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman said 22 deaths were confirmed on the basis of information from various hospitals where those pulled out from the water and inside the boat were admitted.

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He also said many of those who died were women and children who had come for a ride amid the ongoing school vacations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the deaths and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each victim.

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P K Kunhalikutty, a legislator of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), told reporters from a government hospital near Tanur that overcrowding is believed to have been the reason behind the vessel capsizing.

Sun News/MR

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