Sixteen people, including 10 women have been drowned when their boat capsized in the sea near Vazhai Theevu island in the Gulf of Mannar, off Periyapattinam coast, police said.

The victims included an Australian NRI woman, who came Rameswaram to attend a marriage, police said.

The victims, hailing from the fishermen colony of Periyapattinam village, were on a picnic between Rameswaram and Tuticorin in a boat fitted with engine when the mishap occurred, Marine Police DSP Thiagarajan said.

It was not known immediately how many people were travelling in the boat though it was permitted to carry upto seven passengers only. Preliminary reports said the boat carried more than 20 people, he said.

Sixteen people, including 10 women have been drowned when their boat capsized in the sea near Vazhai Theevu island in the Gulf of Mannar, off Periyapattinam coast, police said.

The victims included an Australian NRI woman, who came Rameswaram to attend a marriage, police said.

The victims, hailing from the fishermen colony of Periyapattinam village, were on a picnic between Rameswaram and Tuticorin in a boat fitted with engine when the mishap occurred, Marine Police DSP Thiagarajan said. It was not known immediately how many people were travelling in the boat though it was permitted to carry upto seven passengers only. Preliminary reports said the boat carried more than 20 people, he said.