THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At least 35 people, including foreigners, drowned when an overcrowded boat carrying 76 tourists capsized in a lake inside a wildlife sanctuary in the southern Indian state of Kerala Wednesday evening.

Survivors said the state-owned boat capsized when the people onboard moved to one side of the boat to have a closer look at a herd of wild elephants in the forests of Periyar National Park at Thekkady in Idukki district, 257 km from here. Most of the victims are women and children hailing from the Indian states of Punjab, Delhi, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu who were holidaying in Kerala. Police indicated that the death toll could go up as many are still missing.

“We have recovered bodies of 35 victims so far. Some 20-25 people appear to have escaped and others are still missing,” police inspector Reji Kunnumparambil who reached the spot said. “The rains and lack of proper lighting are hampering rescue operations.”

The tragedy struck when the boat entered 120-ft deep waters in the lake within the deep forests, which is also one of India’s 27 tiger reserves, four km away from the landing point. Remnants of the forests submerged by the century-old Mullaperiyar dam also make the area dangerous for navigation.

Ashok Kumar Singh, the chief district administrator, said foreigners were also involved in the tragedy. But he did not identify their nationalities. Thekkady is a popular destination for tourists for spotting elephants and tigers and boating in the lake.

Defence Minister AK Antony said 50 divers from the navy were rushed to the spot where a navy helicopter from the Southern Naval Command had already joined the rescue operations. Several state ministers and federal junior home minister M Ramachandran have rushed to the spot.

Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan said the local authorities were fully geared up and he had ordered a high-level inquiry into the tragedy. “The rescue operations are in full swing,” he said.

Survivors said the toll would have been much higher had it not been for the efforts by the local rescue workers. A film crew shooting in the forests helped them by providing proper lighting in the area with the generators they were using for shooting as the official machinery took time to mobilize.