Houseboat catches fire in Alappuzha

A houseboat carrying tourists caught fire at R Block in Kuttanad on Saturday. The Pulinkunnu police said that five people, including two passengers and three crew members, escaped unhurt.

Officials said the vessel caught fire around 3.30 p.m. Upon noticing smoke billowing from the vessel, the tourists were immediately evacuated. The boat was completely gutted, said an official.

The exact cause of the blaze has not been identified yet.