Whenever there is a boat accident the government becomes alert. Inquiries are ordered and committees are constituted, but in time, the focus shifts until the next accident.
Twenty people died when the boat ferrying them capsized in Krishna River at Pavitra Sangamam near here on November 14, 2017. Exactly six months later, 19 persons died when the boat in which they were travelling sank at one of the deepest points in the Godavari River.
Both boats — tourist and transport — had all the required permissions and licences.
Obviously the role of the government does not end with mere issuing of permissions and licences or these tragic accidents would not have happened.
The common factor in the two tragedies is “human greed.” The government will have to first focus on a fool-proof, fail-safe mechanism to check this element.
In the first accident, the organisers allowed double the number of passengers as there was no system of tickets. The boat did not have a depth (sonar) meter and the driver was not a local and was therefore not familiar with the waters. The Irrigation Department did not foresee the trouble the alluvial deposit caused by the Pattiseema water at Pavitra Sangamam, the confluence of Polavaram Right Main Canal and Krishna River. The lapses on the part of the department concerned are glaring here.
The design of the boat itself was flawed with the ballast tank being sealed resulting in the boat capsizing when it hit the alluvial deposit. Since extra passengers were allowed, the life jackets available were not sufficient.
In the second accident that occurred on May 15, the operator again overloaded the boat. Officials said that the boat was subjected to an inspection earlier in the day and permission was granted. Wanting to make some extra money, the driver loaded it with 100 cement bags and 44 passengers. Some other heavy objects such as two-wheelers were put on the roof. When it began raining, the windows were closed to protect the cement bags, trapping the passengers inside.
No life jackets
Buffeted by the wind, the boat it tilted sending the cement bags and passengers to one side. The boat, which was already weighed down, took water and capsized.
There are dozens of such boats plying every day on the Godavari providing connectivity to hundreds of riverside habitations. None of these boats offer life jackets to passengers.
In yet another incident, a private tourism boat caught fire but no fire equipment of any sort was available. Fortunately for the 80 people aboard, the driver, displaying presence of mind, brought the boat to the shore in the nick of time and everyone alighted safely. Ironically, the boat went up in flames while it was still in the water.
Global standard
Retired Naval Officer Commander V.Krishna says that unlike the roadways, there is only one standard for the waterways and that is the international standard. For boats carrying passengers, Lloyd’s Safety Standards should be maintained. The boat should be subjected to regular inspections. Any boat that does not conform to these specifications should not be given licence or permission. All details about the boats such as when it was last inspected should be put online. Motorised passenger boats being used are pieces of wood put together unscientifically by some nuts and bolts, Commander Krishna says.
The maximum number of passengers should be painted in bold letters on all the boats. All passenger boats should have serviceable life jackets kept within easy reach of the passengers. The boats should also have lifebuoys to rescue people who fall overboard by accident.
East Godavari Collector Kartikeya Misra said, “We are now focusing on improving the road and communication network in the area,” Officials would be sent to the villages frequently to deliver the ration and issue certificates to the residents so that boat travel is reduced. “We are also planning to send children from these habitations to residential schools,” he said.
Reducing the use of boats is the only solution when the boats cannot be made safe. This is the kind of fire-fighting the district administration is forced to do.
