Nine people, including women and children, drowned and several others injured when a boat capsized in the sea off Manapadu in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin district on Sunday, said officials.

The incident reportedly took place at 6pm. Reports suggest that around 30 people travelled on the boat. 

"Nine persons lost their lives and 19 were rescued when a boat capsized off Manapadu coast. Three families from Tiruchendur seems to have booked the boat," District Collector M Ravi Kumar told IANS over phone.

He said the injured have been admitted in the government hospital.

An official in the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Service in Tuticorin told IANS among the dead were some children.

The victims had reportedly come to Azhagammanpuram village for a temple festival.

As the fishermen in the area and those connected with the boat absconded after the accident, it is not known how many people had boarded the boat, the fireman said.

A police case has been registered and investigations have begun over the cause of the accident.

The Sunday accident is the first major boat accident in Tamil Nadu after the one that occurred at Pulicat lake near here on December 25, 2011 killing 22 persons.

(With inputs from IANS)