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High-level inquiry will be held: VS

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A high-level inquiry will be held to ascertain the cause of the boat capsize at Thekkady, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said.

Describing the accident as an extremely saddening one, the Chief Minister told reporters here late on Wednesday that a three-member team of Ministers comprising Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran and Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran had rushed to Thekkady.

The incident was reminiscent of the boat tragedy at Thattekkad two years ago, the Chief Minister said. Mr. Achuthanandan, who held hurried consultations with his Cabinet colleagues present in the State capital immediately after being informed about the accident, said he had contacted Defence Minister A.K. Antony and was assured of all support from the Navy in the search and rescue operations.

Navy divers

Mr. Antony had got back to him within two minutes of his call to New Delhi and told him that the Navy had been instructed to send divers and all necessary support systems. He said the Idukki District Collector was coordinating the rescue efforts. He had informed the State capital that seven bodies were recovered (by 6.45 p.m.) and seven persons had been sent to hospital for treatment. Two teams of doctors from Idukki and Kottayam had also been sent to the scene.

Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy expressed his shock and grief over the boat tragedy at Thekkady, which claimed many lives on Wednesday

Control room

The government has opened a control room here to communicate information on the victims of the boat tragedy at Thekkady on Wednesday. The control room’s phone numbers are: 1070 (toll free), 0471-2333198 and 0471-2331639.

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