Chinese fishing net platform collapses, five foreign tourists fall into water

Five foreign tourists fell into the water after the platform of a Chinese fishing net collapsed at Fort Kochi here on Friday, police said.

A Chinese fishing net is a stationary lift net installed a few metres from the shore and connected to a wooden platform. The net is lowered into the water and later lifted using counterweights.

These nets, located near the estuary and operated by local fishermen, are a major tourist attraction at Fort Kochi, with visitors often taking part in lowering and lifting them.

According to police, a group of around 10 tourists from various European countries visited Fort Kochi at around 11 am.

The tourists stepped onto the wooden platform to watch the operation of a Chinese net when a plank on the platform collapsed, causing five of them to fall into the wa