At least 22 people, including children, were killed after a houseboat capsized in Kerala’s Malappuram on Sunday, PTI reported, citing a senior district official.

The tragedy occurred around 7 pm near an estuary close to the Thoovaltheeram beach at Tanur, a coastal town in Malappuram.

There were more than 30 passengers on board and those rescued claimed that the boat was overcrowded. Most of the passengers also did not have life jackets, reported The Indian Express.

Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman on Monday said that the toll was likely to rise as rescue operations are still underway. However, the cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained, Abdurahiman added.

PK Kunhalikutty, an MLA of the Indian Union Muslim League, told PTI that boats are not allowed to enter the waters after 6 pm but the operators violated the rule.

Another legislator from the Indian Union Muslim League, KPA Majeed, said that officials were warned about the lack of safety measures, reported The Indian Express. The town mainly has fishing vessels and the tourist boat service had been launched recently. The authorities allowed the service to continue without ensuring safety of the passengers, Majeed alleged.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Monday that a judicial inquiry will be conducted into the accident. He also announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of those who died and said that the state government will bear expenses of those under treatment, PTI reported.

The inquiry panel will consist of technical experts and a Special Investigation Team of the Kerala Police, Vijayan told reporters after meeting a family that lost 12 members in the accident.

Earlier, Vijayan had directed the district collector to carry out a coordinated emergency rescue operation. Fire and police units, officials from the revenue and health departments and residents from Tanur and Tirur are involved in the rescue operation, a statement from Vijayan said.

A team of the National Disaster Response Force from Thrissur also went to Malappuram for the rescue operation.

The chief minister announced that Monday has been declared as a day of mourning and all government events have been postponed as a mark of respect to those who lost their lives in the accident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased.

“Pained by the loss of lives due to the boat mishap in Malappuram, Kerala,” Modi said in a tweet. The Centre will also provide an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund to the families of the deceased.”

Congress leader and former Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi wished for the speedy recovery of those injured in the accident. District officials said that eight persons are undergoing treatment at various hospitals.