Kuttanad: A houseboat was completely gutted by a fire at Marthadam backwaters here on Sunday.
The houseboat with a British tourist couple – Pete and Alexandria – was anchored near the shore for lunch break at around 1.30 pm when the crew noticed smoke billowing from the lower deck of the boat.
Immediately, the tourists jumped out of the boat and the crew tried to douse the flame with fire extinguishers but in vain. The fire consumed the boat in no time but no one was injured in the accident. The crew removed the cooking gas cylinders from the boat before it was gutted.
Later, the tourists were taken to their resort in Kumarakom on another boat. A police team led by Pulikunnu CI K P Thompson visited the spot.
Though Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Alappuzha reached the spot, the delay in operating the water pump created concern among people.