Two arrested for negligence leading to fatal tour boat capsizing off North Goa, India

Local police in India's Goa state have arrested two people on charges of negligence resulting in death in connection with a boat capsizing incident that left one person dead and several others injured earlier this week.

The suspects have been identified as the two crewmembers of the ill-fated tour boat Goa-824-WS, which overturned in the Arabian Sea some 60 metres off Calangute Beach in North Goa district at around noon (local time) on Wednesday, December 25.

The more than 20 passengers who were on the tour boat at the time ended up in the water as their vessel overturned. Twenty people were safely rescued, including four individuals who were initially found unconscious but were later successfully revived.

A 54-year-old male tourist was also found unconscious but was later pronounced deceased after being brought to hospital. This individual is confirmed to be the incident's sole fatality.

The local captain of ports department has meanwhile suspended the licence of the boat's owner and operator until further notice as part of the investigation into the incident.

The department added that the incident may be attributed to overloading as the boat was cleared to carry no more than 10 passengers in addition to the two crewmembers.

Investigators are also looking into reports that two of the passengers were not given lifejackets.