SunCorp

In a tragedy caused by gross neglect on the part of the Kerala state administration, fifteen children - below the age of ten - and three teachers, died when a boat carrying about 50 students and staff of a school capsized in the Periyar river in Kerala's Ernakulam district on Tuesday (February 20).

A total of 103 students and staff of Elavoor School near Angamaly had gone to Thattekkad bird sanctuary in two boats when one of the three hired boats capsized at around 6 pm. The poor condition of the boat is being given as the reason for the capsizing.

The navy, fire service and police were involved in rescue operations, but the latter were hampered due to poor light and lack of enough rescue boats. Thirteen bodies were taken to Dharmagiri Hospital at Kothamangalam while two bodies were brought to Mar Baselious Hospital in the same town, sources said. Parents of the children rushed to the site of the accident on hearing about the tragedy. Few remained unmoved as the bodies of children, shrouded in white, were laid out in the nearby hospital.

Expressing grief over the boat tragedy, Kerala Governor, R L Bhatia said “I am deeply shocked and saddened at the boat tragedy at Tattekkadu that has claimed several tender lives. I convey my heartfelt condolence to the bereaved families.”

No safety measures in place

Shockingly, the boats appeared to be in a state of disrepair, but had been put to use to ferry children despite this, resulting in one boat capsizing. Moreover the boats, which were not registered, had been loaded much beyond their capacity by the boatmen. Survivors of the tragedy also alleged that one of the boats had had a leak. The driver of the boat has been absconding since the incident.

Now, in a knee jerk reaction, the government is talking of sterner safety measures.

“We need to strictly put down guidelines for children on how they should go for picnics. We need to enforce these guidelines,” said M A Baby, Kerala’s education minister.

Could this tragedy have been avoided, who is responsible, the school management, the person who was in charge of the boat, this is some thing that could have been avoided.