The Hindu : Front Page : Four die as boat capsizes off Tuticorin coast

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 28, 2005

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Four die as boat capsizes off Tuticorin coast

By R Vimal Kumar

Nineteen of the 40 occupants swim ashore to safety; rescue teams search for the missing persons Sources said the overturned boat fell on the passengers, causing more deaths.

TUTICORIN: Four of the 40 passengers were killed when a country boat, fitted with motors, capsized off the Tuticorin coast on Sunday evening. Nineteen occupants swam ashore.

Official sources said the boat, recently purchased by Edison (28) of Threspuram and yet to be registered with the Fisheries Department, was on its maiden voyage to the nearby Hare Island when the accident took place.

The boat set off on its journey at 2.30 p.m. to the island, situated about 7 km from the Threspuram shores here.

The trip was organised by the Edison family to offer prayers at a small church located on the island.

The passengers, who were either members or friends of the Edison family, were returning to Threspuram around 4.10 p.m. when the tragedy struck.

The boat capsized apparently due to overcrowding at one end. The sea was not rough and there were no strong winds in the region at the time of the accident.

Sources said the overturned boat fell on the passengers, causing more deaths.

Fishermen who were in the vicinity of the site of the accident rushed to the rescue the passengers.

When news reached the shore, hundreds of fishermen in mechanised and country boats joined the rescue efforts.

Timely intervention

Due to timely intervention, some passengers were rescued and brought to the shore.

A team of police officials and fishermen continued the search for the missing passengers till late in the evening.

Four bodies were recovered and 13 persons, rescued by fishermen, have been admitted to the Government Hospital and private hospitals here with injuries.

The deceased were identified as Robert (63), Joncy (10), Angela (14) and Sweetlin (7).

Dyson (10), Flora (50), Edison (28), owner of the boat, Asha (10), Renitta (25), Titus (9), Nishal (7), Punita (28) and Swretha (7), suffered injuries. The names of the missing were not known immediately.

Solatium

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced a solatium of Rs.50,000 to each of the bereaved families and Rs.15,000 for each of the injured.

In a statement, the Chief Minister said she was shocked to hear of the accident and offered her condolences to the affected families.

The Tuticorin District Administration had been ordered to render all help to persons undergoing treatment in the hospital, the Chief Minister said.

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