Boat tragedies have not made us wiser to ensure fool-proof safety

By O.J.George
This evening a tourist boat of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation capsized in Thekkady reservoir killing over 30 people. A few tourists were rescued. However more people have to be accounted for. It is believed that there were 80 passengers in the boat, Jalakanyaka, which was on its maiden voyage in the reservoir flanking the wildlife sanctuary.

Initial reports say there were two foreigners among the dead.

No doubt, there were not many lifebuoys on the boat, whose capacity was 74. That the tragedy occurred in the evening and darkness has set in made rescue operations difficult.

The venue of the tragedy was about five kms away from the boat landing berth. And it was a hazardous task to reach the venue in the reservoir which is filled to the brink on account of plenty of rains received these days.

To take those rescued to the hospital also was not easy as any hospital was not available within five kms.

Remember, two years ago there was a boat tragedy in Thattekkard bird sanctuary. And that was also an evening affair. The victims were 15 students and three teachers of Elavoor St Antony’s School.

There were 60 passengers in that boat which had travel capacity for only six persons.

The passengers had collected themselves on one side which caused the overturn.

Today’s Thekkady tragedy also has the same condition. The tourists had collected themselves on one side of the boat on their seeing wild animals on the banks.

Thekkady reservoir waters contain remains of standing dead trees in the water. Usually no boat would be allowed to ply in the darkness. Rescue operations in the dead of night would have bleak chances.

The area does not have range for mobile phones. Neither is electricity available in the region.

All these facilities should have been provided at a world-famous tourist spot.

We must not only grieve when a tragedy occurs, but we must provide all security measures for tourists.