The death toll in the tourist spot tragedy at Thekkady in Kerala rose to 35 with
four more bodies recovered from the ill-fated boat in the wee hours today.
According to official sources, a team of rescuers which included divers extricated the bodies from the partly submerged boat which capsized yesterday in the famous Thekkady lake in Periyar wildlife sanctuary in Idukki district.
District collector Ashok Kumar Singh had confirmed last night that a total of 31 bodies, including 14 women and six children, were recovered from the state-run double-deck boat which carried 74 tourists.
According to eyewitnesses, the tragedy occurred when the boat 'Jalakanyaka' tilted after several tourists moved to one side on sighting elephants in the wildlife sanctuary on the banks of the lake. The boat was half submerged in the mishap.
The toll is likely to go up as few more people are yet to be traced, the sources said, adding, the search operation continued in the morning hours.
