Eight school students drowned when a country boat in which they were returning home capsized in Chaliyar river on Wednesday, a month after Kerala's worst tourism tragedy at Thekkady which claimed 45 lives.

The boat had about 35 people on board, mostly students of Sullum Salam Higher Secondary school at Moorkkanad. They were on their way to the Oorngattiri village when the mishap occurred near Areekkod in this district, 25 km from Kozhikode city.

The victims, in the age group of 16 to 17, included a girl.

According to eye-witnesses, the boat sank when it was 30 m from the boarding point and many of the survivors either swam to safety or were rescued by the local people.

The country craft is the usual mode of transport for villagers to commute between Moorkkanad and Areekkod.

The tragedy plunged the village into shock and sorrow.

On hearing about the incident, people thronged the Areekkod government hospital where the bodies were brought.

On September 30, a tourist boat of the state tourism department capsized in Thekkady lake in which 45 tourists drowned.