The boat tragedy in southern Indian state of Kerala made news everywhere. But it has caused profound grief for Kunnummal Saithalavi, who lost 11 members of&nbsp;his family in the accident. Twenty-two people lost lives in the boat tragedy. This means half of those dead were relatives of Kunnummal Saithalavi.

The family members had gone to Thooval Theeram, a tourist attraction in Kerala's Malappuram district where the boat tragedy took place. As the news of the boat accident began doing the rounds, Kunnummal Saithalavi tried calling the family members on their mobile phones.

"I tried them on three different mobile phones they used [but got no response]," he said, as quoted by BBC.

Kunnummal Saithalavi and his brother Kunnummal Siraj stay with their family and their mother in Puthankadappuram, a few kilometres away&nbsp;from the site of the tragedy.

The family decided to visit Thooval Theeram as Saithalavi's sister had come visiting. The family also invited his adopted brother Kunnumal Jabir and his family along with their neighbour Ashifa and her two children. The group now comprised 19 people.

"I warned them not to take the boat ride as I was sure boating at that time would not be safe," he told BBC.

Neighbour of his family&nbsp;Ashifa was quoted by BBC as saying that when the group decided to head back home, the boat operator started offering huge discounts on ticket prices and even free tickets for children.

"It was an attractive offer," said Ashifa.

"We accepted it but I changed my mind because of safety concerns."

There were reportedly 50 people on the boat, almost double of&nbsp;its capacity when it overturned. The operator of the boat did not have permission to take the boat into the water after dark.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-doctors-protest-after-22-year-old-doctor-is-stabbed-to-death-by-patient-591131">India: Patient stabs to death 22-year-old female medic in Kerala, doctors protest</a>

After the boat overturned and Saithalavi couldn't reach his relatives' mobile phones, he rushed to the site close to the water and took a boat docked there to reach the exact location of the tragedy. Saithalavi jumped into the water and even pulled up a body, only to realise it was his niece.&nbsp;

Only four persons in the family from the group that had gone to Thooval Theeram came back.

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The boat tragedy in southern Indian state of Kerala made news everywhere. But it has caused profound grief for Kunnummal Saithalavi, who lost 11 members of his family in the accident.

The boat tragedy in southern Indian state of Kerala made news everywhere. But it has caused profound grief for Kunnummal Saithalavi, who lost 11 members of his family in the accident. Twenty-two people lost lives in the boat tragedy. This means half of those dead were relatives of Kunnummal Saithalavi. The family members had gone to Thooval Theeram, a tourist attraction in Kerala's Malappuram district where the boat tragedy took place. As the news of the boat accident began doing the rounds, Kunnummal Saithalavi tried calling the family members on their mobile phones. "I tried them on three different mobile phones they used [but got no response]," he said, as quoted by BBC. Kunnummal Saithalavi and his brother Kunnummal Siraj stay with their family and their mother in Puthankadappuram, a few kilometres away from the site of the tragedy. The family decided to visit Thooval Theeram as Saithalavi's sister had come visiting. The family also invited his adopted brother Kunnumal Jabir and his family along with their neighbour Ashifa and her two children. The group now comprised 19 people. "I warned them not to take the boat ride as I was sure boating at that time would not be safe," he told BBC. Neighbour of his family Ashifa was quoted by BBC as saying that when the group decided to head back home, the boat operator started offering huge discounts on ticket prices and even free tickets for children. "It was an attractive offer," said Ashifa. "We accepted it but I changed my mind because of safety concerns." There were reportedly 50 people on the boat, almost double of its capacity when it overturned. The operator of the boat did not have permission to take the boat into the water after dark. Also Read | India: Patient stabs to death 22-year-old female medic in Kerala, doctors protest After the boat overturned and Saithalavi couldn't reach his relatives' mobile phones, he rushed to the site close to the water and took a boat docked there to reach the exact location of the tragedy. Saithalavi jumped into the water and even pulled up a body, only to realise it was his niece. Only four persons in the family from the group that had gone to Thooval Theeram came back. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Kerala boat tragedy: This man lost 11 members of his family, just four returned

The Kerala boat accident that killed 22 and injured many has opened a can of worms about regulatory malpractice, oversight, and negligence that culminated into one of the state’s deadliest accidents.

On Sunday night, the operator of the tour boat, Atlantic, not only kept its services open well beyond the stipulated hours but also let greed take over as the vessel was overcrowded with tourists, including women and children.

Police officers said that the vessel, which was initially a fishing boat, carried at least 30-40 passengers onboard.

Eyewitnesses told local news outlet Manorama that the boat operators continued to invite more people to join saying that it was the ‘last trip of the day’, despite the boat being overloaded.

PK Kunhalikutty, an MLA of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), told PTI that the boat violated the rule of vessels not being allowed to operate after 6 pm.

The incident took place around 7 pm (local time) near an estuary in Thooval Theeram Beach in the Tanur area.

On Monday, police caught the owner of the boat from the Kozhikode beach area after a 24-hour manhunt.

A senior police officer of Malappuram district confirmed to PTI news agency that the boat owner, Nasar, has been caught.

"He has been caught from the Calicut (Kozhikode) beach area. He has not been arrested formally. He will be brought here (Malappuram)," the officer, who has not been named, was quoted as saying.

<h2>Kerala boat tragedy: 22 dead after houseboat capsizes&nbsp;</h2>

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<h2>How did the tragedy happen?</h2>

Police officers said that the boat was carrying 40 passengers, well beyond its capacity, which made it tilt to one side, and eventually, it capsized.

The accident happened in the backwaters of Thooval Theeram, which is situated on the banks of the estuary of the Poorapuzha River joining the Arabian Sea.

The beach was crowded with visitors due to the holiday. The accident happened while passengers were returning from the trip.

The first rescue boat took almost 15 minutes to reach the spot due to a lack of light.

<h2>Was it really a ferry boat?</h2>

No. According to officials, the double-decker boat was initially a fishing boat. It is alleged that the owner modified it into such a boat for tourism and illegally bought a licence to run it as a passenger boat.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-boat-capsize-kills-22-indian-navy-deploys-two-helos-and-15-divers-590191">Boat capsizes in Kerala, killing 22; Indian Navy deploys two helos and 15 divers</a>

According to local reports, several complaints were made against the Atlantic boat owner and even senior government officials were notified of its illegal activity, but none paid heed.

It has been claimed that the owner, Nasser, used his political clout to suppress any complaint and made sure that his business ran uninterrupted.

Moreover, it has been reported that the boat lacked adequate safety measures, like lifejackets, which resulted in a high number of casualties.

The boat was not given a safety certificate which is mandatory for tourist boats, and it entered the waters late in the evening on Sunday despite a ban on boat rides post-sunset.&nbsp;

<h2>What has the government done?</h2>

Despite several fatal boat accidents in Kerala over the last 100 years and three Commission of Inquiry reports recommending preventive measures, lack of government intervention resulted in the boating tragedy, reports PTI news agency.

A district disaster management authority in a meeting in February this year reportedly warned of illegal boat operations.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday visited the Taluk Hospital, Tirurangadi in Malappuram district where survivors of the boat tragedy near the Tanur coast were admitted.

The Kerala government also ordered a judicial probe into the incident. The chief minister announced Rs one&nbsp;million compensation to the kin of victims and said the government will bear the treatment expense of the injured people.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Kerala boat accident that killed 22 and injured many has opened a can of worms about regulatory malpractice, oversight, and negligence that culminated into one of the state’s deadliest accidents.

The Kerala boat accident that killed 22 and injured many has opened a can of worms about regulatory malpractice, oversight, and negligence that culminated into one of the state’s deadliest accidents. On Sunday night, the operator of the tour boat, Atlantic, not only kept its services open well beyond the stipulated hours but also let greed take over as the vessel was overcrowded with tourists, including women and children. Police officers said that the vessel, which was initially a fishing boat, carried at least 30-40 passengers onboard. Eyewitnesses told local news outlet Manorama that the boat operators continued to invite more people to join saying that it was the ‘last trip of the day’, despite the boat being overloaded. PK Kunhalikutty, an MLA of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), told PTI that the boat violated the rule of vessels not being allowed to operate after 6 pm. The incident took place around 7 pm (local time) near an estuary in Thooval Theeram Beach in the Tanur area. On Monday, police caught the owner of the boat from the Kozhikode beach area after a 24-hour manhunt. A senior police officer of Malappuram district confirmed to PTI news agency that the boat owner, Nasar, has been caught. "He has been caught from the Calicut (Kozhikode) beach area. He has not been arrested formally. He will be brought here (Malappuram)," the officer, who has not been named, was quoted as saying. Kerala boat tragedy: 22 dead after houseboat capsizes How did the tragedy happen? Police officers said that the boat was carrying 40 passengers, well beyond its capacity, which made it tilt to one side, and eventually, it capsized. The accident happened in the backwaters of Thooval Theeram, which is situated on the banks of the estuary of the Poorapuzha River joining the Arabian Sea. The beach was crowded with visitors due to the holiday. The accident happened while passengers were returning from the trip. The first rescue boat took almost 15 minutes to reach the spot due to a lack of light. Was it really a ferry boat? No. According to officials, the double-decker boat was initially a fishing boat. It is alleged that the owner modified it into such a boat for tourism and illegally bought a licence to run it as a passenger boat. Also read | Boat capsizes in Kerala, killing 22; Indian Navy deploys two helos and 15 divers According to local reports, several complaints were made against the Atlantic boat owner and even senior government officials were notified of its illegal activity, but none paid heed. It has been claimed that the owner, Nasser, used his political clout to suppress any complaint and made sure that his business ran uninterrupted. Moreover, it has been reported that the boat lacked adequate safety measures, like lifejackets, which resulted in a high number of casualties. The boat was not given a safety certificate which is mandatory for tourist boats, and it entered the waters late in the evening on Sunday despite a ban on boat rides post-sunset. What has the government done? Despite several fatal boat accidents in Kerala over the last 100 years and three Commission of Inquiry reports recommending preventive measures, lack of government intervention resulted in the boating tragedy, reports PTI news agency. A district disaster management authority in a meeting in February this year reportedly warned of illegal boat operations. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday visited the Taluk Hospital, Tirurangadi in Malappuram district where survivors of the boat tragedy near the Tanur coast were admitted. The Kerala government also ordered a judicial probe into the incident. The chief minister announced Rs one million compensation to the kin of victims and said the government will bear the treatment expense of the injured people. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Kerala boat tragedy: Oversight, corruption resulted in one of state's deadliest accidents

India's southern state of Kerala witnessed a boat capsize. At least 22 people died, including 15 children. What has the government done about the incident? Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Boat capsizes after overloading in Kerala

The Indian Navy has deployed two Chetak helicopters along with 15 naval search and rescue divers to the Poorappura river in Tirur, Malappuram district, Kerala, the accident site where 22 lives have been lost in a tourist boat sinking. The Navy helicopters and divers are the latest to be pressed into action and they will further enhance the ongoing search and rescue efforts being carried out by the National Disaster Response Force and authorities from the Kerala Government etc.

However, there is not much clarity on how many people were on board this ill-fated ferry and this poses a major challenge for the authorities involved in the search and rescue efforts.&nbsp;

Around 7 pm Sunday, 'Atlantic', an illegal tourist ferry that carried around 40 persons capsized a few hundred meters from the estuary, where the Poorappura River meets the Arabian Sea.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndianNavy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndianNavy</a> deploys 2xChetak helos and 15 search &amp; rescue divers (with diving gear, related equipment) to the boat accident site in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Malappuram?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Malappuram</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kerala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kerala</a> 
 
Multiple helo sorties planned 
 
So far- 22 lives lost; 10 hospitalised; few suspected missing <a href="https://twitter.com/DefencePROkochi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DefencePROkochi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IN_HQSNC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IN_HQSNC</a> <a href="https://t.co/DJ4UR2Sv2g">pic.twitter.com/DJ4UR2Sv2g</a>
— Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) <a href="https://twitter.com/sdhrthmp/status/1655478411845050370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Serious lapses and violations have been observed in the operation of this illegal ferry. As per rules, such tourist ferries are meant to operate only until 5 pm, but this ill-fated ferry operated well after 6:30 pm. The boat is said to have been capable of carrying only 20 people, but carried almost twice as many and did not provide life jackets to those on board.&nbsp;

Initial reports indicate that the ferry capsized owing to overcrowding. As the tragedy took place after sunset hour, rescue operations were challenging in the night hours.

The vessel is said to be a fishing boat that was not originally meant to ferry passengers, but it was modified and used as a tourist ferry, without necessary approvals and licences. It is reported that the vessel was enclosed in a glass casing and did not have necessary emergency exits, thus making it near-impossible for those trapped to escape from the capsized vessel. Authorities say that the owner of the vessel is absconding.&nbsp;

The first responders to this accident were the local people and fishermen and they were soon joined in by state authorities including Police, Fire and Rescue teams etc. As per the latest information, 22 persons have died in this accident and 10 of them are hospitalized. In a tweet, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolence to the bereaved families and also announced an ex-gratia of Rs two&nbsp;lakh for the next of kin of each deceased.

A day of mourning is being observed in Kerala on Monday. Given the blatant lapses and rule violations that led to the mishap, the Kerala Chief Minister announced that there would be a judicial probe into the incident. He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for each of the bereaved families.&nbsp;

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The Indian Navy has deployed two Chetak helicopters along with 15 naval search and rescue divers to the Poorappura river in Tirur, Malappuram district, Kerala, the accident site where 22 lives have been lost in a tourist boat sinking.

The Indian Navy has deployed two Chetak helicopters along with 15 naval search and rescue divers to the Poorappura river in Tirur, Malappuram district, Kerala, the accident site where 22 lives have been lost in a tourist boat sinking. The Navy helicopters and divers are the latest to be pressed into action and they will further enhance the ongoing search and rescue efforts being carried out by the National Disaster Response Force and authorities from the Kerala Government etc. However, there is not much clarity on how many people were on board this ill-fated ferry and this poses a major challenge for the authorities involved in the search and rescue efforts. Around 7 pm Sunday, 'Atlantic', an illegal tourist ferry that carried around 40 persons capsized a few hundred meters from the estuary, where the Poorappura River meets the Arabian Sea. #IndianNavy deploys 2xChetak helos and 15 search & rescue divers (with diving gear, related equipment) to the boat accident site in #Malappuram #kerala Multiple helo sorties planned So far- 22 lives lost; 10 hospitalised; few suspected missing @DefencePROkochi @IN_HQSNC pic.twitter.com/DJ4UR2Sv2g — Sidharth.M.P (@sdhrthmp) May 8, 2023 × Serious lapses and violations have been observed in the operation of this illegal ferry. As per rules, such tourist ferries are meant to operate only until 5 pm, but this ill-fated ferry operated well after 6:30 pm. The boat is said to have been capable of carrying only 20 people, but carried almost twice as many and did not provide life jackets to those on board. Initial reports indicate that the ferry capsized owing to overcrowding. As the tragedy took place after sunset hour, rescue operations were challenging in the night hours. The vessel is said to be a fishing boat that was not originally meant to ferry passengers, but it was modified and used as a tourist ferry, without necessary approvals and licences. It is reported that the vessel was enclosed in a glass casing and did not have necessary emergency exits, thus making it near-impossible for those trapped to escape from the capsized vessel. Authorities say that the owner of the vessel is absconding. The first responders to this accident were the local people and fishermen and they were soon joined in by state authorities including Police, Fire and Rescue teams etc. As per the latest information, 22 persons have died in this accident and 10 of them are hospitalized. In a tweet, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolence to the bereaved families and also announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh for the next of kin of each deceased. A day of mourning is being observed in Kerala on Monday. Given the blatant lapses and rule violations that led to the mishap, the Kerala Chief Minister announced that there would be a judicial probe into the incident. He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for each of the bereaved families. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Boat capsizes in Kerala, killing 22; Indian Navy deploys two helos and 15 divers

The death toll from a tourist boat disaster near Thoovaltheeram beach in Kerala has increased to 22, according to officials on Monday. According to local officials, eight individuals were rescued when the boat capsized on Sunday evening and are being treated at separate hospitals.

Kerala boat tragedy: 22 dead after houseboat capsizes near Thoovaltheeram beach | India News | WION

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Kerala boat tragedy: This man lost 11 members of his family, just four returned

Kerala boat tragedy: Oversight, corruption resulted in one of state's deadliest accidents

Gravitas: Boat capsizes after overloading in Kerala

Boat capsizes in Kerala, killing 22; Indian Navy deploys two helos and 15 divers

Kerala boat tragedy: 22 dead after houseboat capsizes near Thoovaltheeram beach | India News | WION