Udupi, 26 Jan

At least two people were killed and two others remain critical after a tourist boat capsized near the Hangarkatte shipbuilding area off Malpe coast on Monday, police said.

The incident occurred around noon at the confluence of the river and the sea, near the Malpe-Kota police station border, Udupi SP Hariram Shankar told PTI. The boat, operated by a private firm, had 14 passengers on board, all of whom were rescued and brought ashore with help from nearby boats.

The deceased were identified as Shankarappa, 22, and Sindhu, 23. Preliminary reports indicate life jackets were provided, but not all passengers were wearing them at the time. The group, from Saraswathipuram in Mysuru, were on a recreational trip and employed at a call centre.

Police are investigating strong currents, passenger capacity, and compliance with safety norms. Malpe and Kota police have registered a case, with further details awaited after technical and operational verification.