Residents of Hogenakkal say Sunday’s coracle tragedy is not new. Often they hear incidents of drowning. In 2010, a similar accident involving a coracle ride ended in the drowning of four from Chennai.
Lifejacket was made mandatory after the Pulicat lake boat tragedy in 2011. But in Hogenakkal, which witnesses several hundred tourists every weekend, the lifejacket norm is ignored. Often tourists are reluctant to don the lifejackets, citing the heightened humidity, says a former tourism manager of Hogenakkal, requesting anonymity.
The occasional tourists, who do wear lifejackets before boarding a coracle at the boathouse, removed them after the coracle stops at two points for the tourists to climb out for closer view of Five Falls. They ignore the lifejacket after climbing onboard the second time, says a police source.
Enquiries revealed that the riders also flouted the passenger limit norm of six persons per coracle, says the former tourism manager. On Sunday, 10 passengers were on board the ill-fated coracle. Overcrowding is linked to overpricing of the rides. The government has fixed the fare at Rs. 110 per person, but coracle drivers charge Rs.160.
Sometime ago, the hanging bridge that renders a perfect view of Five Falls by foot was closed to prevent tourists from straying by foot up to the scenic falls. In the absence of access to a view of the falls, the only option left is a coracle ride that offers them a view. A local resident felt that posting of lifeguards along the hanging bridge would prove effective.
Adventurous ride
The coracles are operated by locals who also provide a little adventure by pushing the paddle to make the coracle swirl in the rapids, a common occurrence when the river is in spate.
A tourist hotel official said, “With better travel facilities, people make the trip on their own and also opt for a ride in the coracle. Most of them make the trip on their own, often in the day. Of late, the tragedy has been compounded as we not only have families but also groups of friends who consume alcohol and enter the water. Most visitors do not know to swim and are uncaring of their own safety. Some of them enter the river without realising its depth or the rapids and drown,” the employee rued.
“Though we run a hotel we have nothing to do with coracle rides. Whatever activities we take up it is with the permission of the Forest Department,” said Har Sahay Meena, managing director, Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation.
To a question on whether the department would take up the issue in the light of the present incident, he said when a detailed report is received, the department would consider presenting a suggestion on safety norms, he said.
