NEW DELHI, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least six children were killed and three were rescued after a boat capsized in southern India, police said Wednesday.

The boat capsized late Tuesday in backwaters near Ponnani Kole in Malappuram district, about 359 km north of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala state.

"Last evening a boat carrying nine people capsized here, following which six children drowned. Three people including the owner of the boat were rescued and immediately hospitalized," a police official posted in Malappuram told Xinhua, adding that "the children had come on a vacation to stay with their relatives."

Officials said the condition of the boat owner was stated to be critical.

Reports said the boat capsized 200 meters off the banks. Following the accident authorities pressed in rescue boats and divers and fished out six bodies.

Police said the deceased included four girls and two boys, aged between four and 18 years.

Local government officials have ordered a probe into the incident.

Boat capsizing tragedies are not unusual in India, mainly because of overloading.

Last month 19 people drowned after a boat capsized in Andhra Pradesh.