NB Explains | Kerala Boat Tragedy: A man-made tragedy occurred due to CPM government negligence?

What happened?

At around 7 pm Sunday, a double-decker tourist boat- ‘Atlantic’- which was filled beyond capacity capsized near the estuary of the Poorappuzha River in Tanur. Soon after the news broke, India's National Disaster Response Force and Indian coast guard personnel were engaged in rescue work.

According to official sources, there were 37 passengers in the boat when it capsized. While 22 people drowned, 10 were rescued, and five swam to safety. The dead included children who had come for a ride on the boat during their school vacation.

Sareeja Anilkumar, a homemaker who lives a few metres from the spot, said they saw the boat sailing dangerously, leaning to one side. It looked overcrowded, with several people standing, she said.

What is the reason behind the tragedy?

First of all, it should be highlighted, the Kerala Govt has banned moving all types of engine-operated boats from 5.30 pm to 7.30 am till the next day. As per the rules, no boating is allowed in tourist destinations in Kerala after dusk, however, the ‘Atlantic’ violating regulations continued the service on the Poorapuzha River, which divides the coastal towns of Tanur and Parappanangadi.

The officials said that the boat operated its boating services without a mandatory fitness certificate and licence for passenger service. The local reports also suggest that they were operating without any safety major. As per the survivors, safety equipment like life jackets, the same were not provided to passengers.

As per the eyewitnesses and residents of the area, the double-decker tourist boat was initially a fishing boat, which was converted for tourist services by the owner.

The report added that since the boat had only two exit doors and glass windows, many could not escape to safety. The boat’s upper deck was open with handrails, but its lower deck was covered with glass windows, which trapped several passengers.

Despite the vessel being packed beyond its capacity of 20 persons, operators ignored warnings that the boat was tilting to one side. Even the operators of the month-old cruise service were urging more people to join saying it was the ‘last trip of the day’, despite the boat being overloaded.

At this point, the question raised was who allowed the operation of the fishing boat after converting it into a passenger's vessel.

The horrific tragedy is believed to be the biggest boat tragedy in the southern state. In the last 20 years, at least 103 people have died in Kerala in total in eight major boat accidents.

In 2002, the Kumarakom boat tragedy claimed 29 lives. While in 2007, 14 students and three teachers lost their lives Thattekkad boat accident. In most cases, the boats were found to be carrying passengers much beyond their capacity and violating regulations. Such cases have often revived focus on administrative lapses in the state waterways sector.

A 2013 National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) report also points out that the state government has not heeded any of the recommendations of these committees. The NHRC report titled ‘Boat Accidents in Inland Waters of Kerala’ came in the wake of a boating accident on January 26, 2013, which according to it "could have been avoided if the recommendations of the CoIs had been followed".

It seems like the Kerala government has learnt nothing from earlier episodes, as the govt has been unable to stop such incidents that could affect the Tourism sector which constitutes 10 per cent of Kerala‟s GDP and reportedly contributes around 23.5 per cent to the total employment in the state. The latest tragedy was due to the state government not paying heed to the reports regarding the Thekkady and Thattekad boating accidents. . This current incident is the latest proof of the Kerala government's negligence towards ensuring the safety of the tourist.