NE NEWS SERVICE
MALAPPURAM, MAY 8
The death toll in the Kerala houseboat tragedy crossed 22 on Monday morning and seven of the victims are children. The search for more people believed to have been trapped under the boat is still ongoing, said Sports Minister V Abdurahiman.
- The PM announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each victim
- As many as nine people are in the hospital and the condition of four is said to be critical
- An emergency meeting has been called by Kerala Health Minister Veena George to assess the situation
As many as nine people are in the hospital and the condition of four is said to be critical. The rescue operations are being carried out by the NDRF and Fire and Rescue personnel. “Of the 20 bodies, 15 have been identified. The boat is being hauled ashore and more bodies are expected to be recovered from inside,” Abdurahiman said.
Pained by the loss of lives due to the boat mishap in Malappuram, Kerala. Condolences to the bereaved families. An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be provided to the next of kin of each deceased: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 7, 2023
The incident happened on Sunday night when the houseboat capsized near Tuvalthiram beach at Tanur area of Malappuram district in Kerala. Many of those who died were women and children who had come for a ride amid the ongoing school vacations.
Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives in the Tanur boat accident in Malappuram. Have directed the District administration to effectively coordinate rescue operations, which are being overseen by Cabinet Ministers. Heartfelt condolences to the grieving families & friends.
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@pinarayivijayan) May 7, 2023
There is no clarity yet on how many were on the boat when the tragedy struck. As per sources, tickets were given to over 39 people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the deaths and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh to the next of kin of each victim. “Pained by the loss of lives due to the boat mishap in Malappuram, Kerala. Condolences to the bereaved families. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF (Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund) would be provided to the next of kin of each deceased,” Modi was quoted as saying in a tweet by the Prime Minister’s Office.
An emergency meeting has been called by Kerala Health Minister Veena George to assess the situation. The Minister had also instructed hospitals to ensure expert treatment for the injured and to speed up the post-mortem examinations of the bodies so that they can be released quickly to the next of kin.
The post-mortems will be conducted at Tirur, Thirurangadi, Perinthalmanna hospitals and the Mancheri Medical College by bringing sufficient staff, including doctors, from districts such as Thrissur and Kozhikode, a statement by the minister said.
Though the boat was said to be overcrowded, Abdurahiman said the reason for the accident is not yet known. An investigation is already on, he added.
The boat is said to have lacked a fitness certificate. There are also reports that the vessel was a fishing boat modified into a tourist boat. The owner of the boat, identified as Nasser, is absconding
