Boat tragedy toll rises to 41; judicial probe ordered

G K Nair

Thekkady (Kerala), Oct 1 (PTI) The death toll in the
worst-ever boat mishap in Thekkady lake, in the southern
coastal Indian state of Kerala, rose to 41 with rescuers
fishing out ten more bodies of tourists Thursday.

Forty naval divers aided by helicopter support resumed
the search operations Thursday morning as mist and rains
hampered their efforts Wednesday night.

A concerned state government ordered a judicial probe by
a sitting high court judge into the tragedy.

Among the dead 12 are from Delhi, nine from Tamil Nadu,
five from West Bengal, four from Andhra Pradesh and three from
Karnataka.

The victims from Delhi include ten belonging to three
families, who were on a pleasure trip to the state. Of them,
nine were women, including a minor girl.

Naval helicopters conducted three sorties from their base
INS Garuda in Kochi since the morning in addition to the recce
by choppers late last evening, officials said.

Grieving relatives struggled to come to grips with the
loss of their dear ones and awaited the bodies after
postmortem at hospitals nearby.

The double-decker boat had sunk in the lake in Periyar
Wildlife Sanctuary in Idukki district Wednesday when tourists
rushed to one side of the vessel to have a glimpse of a herd
of elephants, causing it to tip.

Officials said in all 75 tickets had been issued for the
cruise which started around 4 PM. The tragedy took place about
5 km from the boarding point.(MORE) PTI