Kerala - Kochi   

Forensic experts examine boat

Staff Reporter

Unscientific alterations in design found

KOCHI: A preliminary forensic examination of the boat that was involved in the Thattekkad boat tragedy showed unscientific alterations made in design and violations of safety norms.

The examination was led by K. Mohan, Assistant Director, Forensic Science Laboratory of the Kerala Police. A detailed forensic report would be ready only in a couple of days, said P.A. Dominic, DySP, Muvattupuzha, who is the investigating the tragedy that claimed 18 lives.

There were reports that the raft that met with the accident was formed by sandwiching a speedboat with two non-mechanised fibre boats.

The boat has been impounded as part of the inquiry and is kept at the Kothamangalam police station. The police search is continuing for the main accused in the case, owner and driver of the ill-fated raft, Palakkunnel Raju.

Even though there were reports of people sighting him at various points, the police parties could not trace him.

Senior officials from the Irrigation Department also conducted inspection at the site of the accident. Chief Inspector of Boats V.K. Viswakumar, on Friday suspended the fitness certificate of three boats that were permitted to operate in the lake at the Thattekkad sanctuary.

The boat owners were also asked to re-submit the vessels for inspection. The boats would be permitted to operate only after a fresh inspection of the vessels, said Mr. Viswakumar.

Mr. Viswakumar sought the support of the police to control the number of passengers including children travelling in passenger boats to the Mulavukad and Kadamakudy Islands.

Policemen should be posted at the boat jetties to regulate the number of passengers, as there were reports that the boats were overcrowded, he said.

Memorial at Elavoor

A memorial for those who lost their lives in the tragedy would be constructed at Elavoor. A meeting chaired by Fisheries Minister S. Sarma took the decision to set up the memorial. Mr. Sarma contributed Rs.10 lakh from his MLA fund for the project.

A committee was formed for the construction of the memorial.

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