Jamnagar: At least 10 people were killed and 20 others injured when a boat carrying around 45 people sank off the coast of the Bedi port near Jamnagar in Gujarat Tuesday morning.

The mishap occurred around 11.30 a.m. when passengers, said to be pilgrims, were on their way to a dargah at Pirotan Island, 22 km away. Those injured were taken to Jamnagar's Guru Gobind Singh general hospital by a fire brigade and rescue team from the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), police said adding that the death toll could rise.

Initially the rescue work was carried out by local fishermen.

Boats from Bedi port take about two hours to reach the Pirotan island. Since the beach is very shallow, the boats can only reach the island during high tide and leave the island during high tide. Most visitors to Pirotan island come in the morning with the high tide prevailing due to full moon.

Pirotan island was originally known as "Pir jo thaan", meaning the place of the holy saint Khwaja Khizer Alaihisalaam.

 

Source : ians