Kumarakom: A houseboat carrying a four-member tourist family sank in the Pennar stream early on Friday, narrowly avoiding a major tragedy. All four occupants, including a six-year-old boy, managed to escape in time.

The incident occurred around 3 A M. The tourists who escaped were identified as Gajendra Singh, his wife Anjali, their son Arshu and Anjali’s brother Raghav.

The family had boarded the houseboat on Thursday morning, and after a day’s cruise on the lake, the vessel was anchored at the Pennar stream by evening. In the early hours, the family woke up to water seeping into the boat. By then, the vessel had already begun to tilt and sink.

In a desperate attempt to escape, Raghav and Gajendra Singh broke the glass window of their cabin using their heads and helped the others out through the opening. Raghav suffered a head injury while smashing the glass, while the others sustained minor injuries in the panic.

Hearing the commotion, the  boat crew staying nearby rushed to the scene in a shikara boat and brought the family ashore. Having lost their phones, the tourists walked towards Cheepungal and used a local resident’s phone to contact the police.

Gajendra Singh and Anjali later said they were terrified when the boat began to slant. According to them, the crew had been constantly draining water from the vessel from the moment they boarded it. The sunken boat contained cash, phones, a laptop, ornaments, and documents. Of this, Rs.64,000 was recovered immediately, while several key items remain missing.

The houseboat crew later shifted the family to a nearby hotel, and they are scheduled to return on Saturday. Balram, owner of the sunken houseboat Pamparani, said the tourists would be compensated for their losses.

 Local police and Fire and Rescue Services conducted inspections at the site. SHO MJ Arun and K Shiji visited the spot. The boat, meanwhile, is yet to be lifted from the water.Port Officer Captain Jismon Jacob confirmed that the houseboat’s registration had expired on December 1.