SAN FRANCISCO(TIP):  An Indian American couple is believed to among those who have died in a boat fire that took place off Santa Cruz island in California on Sept 2 morning.

According to media report, Kaustubh Nirmal, who worked in a finance company in the USA and his wife Sanjeeri Deopujari, a dentist, were on board the ill-fated boat, which caught fire and sank off the California coast.

As many as 34 people died after the boat caught fire. The ship carried 33 passengers and 6 crewmembers, and only five of the crew sleeping on the top deck were able to escape by jumping off and taking a small boat to safety.