In Tamilnadu, sixteen people, including 10 women were drowned when their boat capsized in the sea near Vazhai Theevu island in the Gulf of Mannar. The victims, hailing from the fishermen colony of Periyapattinam village, were on a picnic between Rameswaramand Tuticorin in a boat fitted with engine when the mishap occurred. Marine Police DSP Thiagarajan said, the victims included an Australian NRI woman, who came to attend a marriage. It was not known immediately how many people were travelling in the boat though it was permitted to carry uptoseven passengers only. Preliminary reports said the boat carried more than 20 people. A top official of the Indian Coastguard said, rescue and search operations by naval helicopter and Coast Guard's hover crafts and Marine Police were going on as there are different versions about the number of passengers.