AT LEAST 15 children and a school teacher have drowned after a boat carrying a school group toppled in a lake in western India.
As many as 11 students were rescued along with a teacher after the horror incident took place in Harani Lake of Vadodara city.
APRescuers look for missing children and teachers after a boat carrying 27 school children and their teachers capsized in Harni Lake in Vadodara, India, Thursday[/caption]
The victims include children aged as young as 10.
According to authorities, the boat was ferrying a group of 27 children along with four teachers who had gone for a picnic trip.
With a carrying capacity of just 16 people, the boat was overcrowded and children were seated without life jackets, it has been reported.
A senior police official said the rescued people have been admitted to different hospitals for immediate treatment.
India’s National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) is currently carrying out a search operation to trace the remaining students at the lake site.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X/Twitter: “Distressed by the loss of lives due to a boat capsizing at the Harni lake in Vadodara.
“My thoughts are with the bereaved families in this hour of grief. May the injured recover soon.
“The local administration is providing all possible assistance to those affected.”
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