DHAKA: At least 21 people have been killed after a boat carrying tourists capsized near Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

The deaths have been confirmed by P Jawahar, the deputy commissioner of Nicobar.

The boat was travelling between Ross Island and North Bay, P Jawahar said talking to a news channel.

The boat had around 40 to 43 people on board, according to the reports. 13 of them have been rescued so far. The rest are missing.

The boat called Aqua Marine capsized between 3.45pm and 4pm, an NDTV report said quoting the lieutenant governor Lt Gen (Retd) AK Singh, according to The Times of India.

The rescue operations are on. An ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh has been announced.

The injured are being treated at GB Pant hospital.

BDST: 2017 HRS, JAN 26, 2014