New Delhi: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday termed as “shocking and haunting” the recent boat tragedy that killed 22 people, including seven children.
The court said it would not allow the tragedy to be forgotten, and initiated a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL) on the Tanur accident.
“Where are the authorities? What are they doing?” the high court sternly asked the government Tuesday.
A day before, the state’s human rights commission had registered a case on its own over the tragic tourist boat accident.
Judicial Member of the Human Rights Commission K. Baiju Nath has directed the Malappuram District Collector and the Chief Port Surveyor of Alappuzha to submit a report within 10 days.
The boat capsized near an estuary close to the Thoovaltheeram beach in Tanur around 7.30 pm on Sunday.
The government has announced a judicial probe into the matter and will provide compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of each of the deceased.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Monday that the probe would cover technical issues related to the boat’s safety among other things. Apart from the judicial commission, the Kerala Police would also investigate the circumstances that led to the tragedy,” the chief minister said.
Vijayan said the state had put in place a safety protocol for tourist boats and would examine whether they were followed in this case.
Also read: Survivors, families and rescuers recount horror of Sunday’s boat tragedy in Kerala