<p>Eight passengers on a motor boat died after it was hit by a fishing boat and broke near Fort Kochi on Wednesday afternoon.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Police supervising the rescue operations said the passenger motor boat was carrying over 30 passengers who were going to Vypeen island from Fort Kochi. <br /><br />According to a witness, the fishing boat was reversing when it hit the passenger boat. <br />"The accident took place about 100 metres from the Fort Kochi boat jetty, which is the international shipping route. Hence, even if someone is a swimmer, it's difficult to survive," said Samson, the witness. <br /><br />"The place is frequently dredged and hence the place where the accident took place is very deep," Samson added. <br /><br />Police said as soon as the accident occurred, the navy and the Coast Guard swung into action and rescued around 20 people even as the boat was sinking. <br /><br />Some of those rescued died after being taken to a nearby hospital. Most passengers were residents of Vypeen, and all but one of the dead has been identified.</p>
<p>Eight passengers on a motor boat died after it was hit by a fishing boat and broke near Fort Kochi on Wednesday afternoon.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Police supervising the rescue operations said the passenger motor boat was carrying over 30 passengers who were going to Vypeen island from Fort Kochi. <br /><br />According to a witness, the fishing boat was reversing when it hit the passenger boat. <br />"The accident took place about 100 metres from the Fort Kochi boat jetty, which is the international shipping route. Hence, even if someone is a swimmer, it's difficult to survive," said Samson, the witness. <br /><br />"The place is frequently dredged and hence the place where the accident took place is very deep," Samson added. <br /><br />Police said as soon as the accident occurred, the navy and the Coast Guard swung into action and rescued around 20 people even as the boat was sinking. <br /><br />Some of those rescued died after being taken to a nearby hospital. Most passengers were residents of Vypeen, and all but one of the dead has been identified.</p>