A double-decker boathouse carrying 16 passengers, 13 tourists and 3 crew members, suddenly caught fire while sailing across a lake in south India.<br /><br />The incident took place on January 23 near the Pathiramnal Island in Vembanad lake, Muhamma Panchayat, Alappuzha district, in the south Indian state of Kerala.<br /><br />Visuals show the rescuers trying to extinguish the flames which had engulfed the boathouse.<br /><br />Teams of rescuers were seen boarding the burning cruise as they tried to use the floating water lettuce to control the fire.<br /><br />Footage also shows the interior of the boat being destroyed by the raging fire.<br /><br />Fortunately, the rescuers were able to control the situation by constantly throwing the aquatic plants onto the flames, smothering them.<br /><br />According to reports, the boat had caught fire in an area with sandbars where the water level was only 5-foot-deep.<br /><br />The passengers and crew members jumped into the shallow part of the lake while a passenger boat from the State Water Transport Department was first to reach them. <br /><br />Reports also state that the cruise was operating without the necessary legal documents and the cause of the incident is being investigated.
