Driver, assistant arrested in Thekkady boat tragedy
October 5th, 2009 - 11:41 am ICT by IANSThekkady (Kerala), Oct 5 (IANS) The driver of the boat that capsized last week in the lake here killing 45 people has been arrested along with his assistant, police said Monday.
Victor Samuel,38, and his 24-year-old assistant Anish were arrested late Sunday, four days after the boat capsized in the Thekkady lake in the Periyar wildlife sanctuary Wednesday evening.
“Now we will take them to the accident site. They have been charged with culpable homicide and would be produced before a court here,” Superintendent of Police P.A. Valsan, who is heading the investigation, told IANS.
The preliminary findings suggest the boat had a seating capacity of 75, but there were 12 extra people. Furthermore, the boat had inherent problems.
The double-decker boat, owned by the state-run Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) was pressed into service last month.
Samuel and Anish are both contract employees of the KTDC.
“While Samuel had the necessary license, his deputy did not have one. In the coming days, scientific tests would be done by boat experts and then the report would be submitted to the government,” said Valsan.
The state’s tourism, forest and irrigation ministers will meet Monday to discuss the safety and security measures to be adopted in tourist destinations.
The state government has announced it will initiate a judicial probe into the incident.
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- Thekkady official, forest guard arrested over boat tragedy - Oct 08, 2009
- Teenager's body found from Thekkady lake, toll 45 - Oct 04, 2009
- Boat tragedy: Kerala government, tourism agency also responsible - Oct 20, 2009
- Singer Yesudas to help Thekkady boat driver - Oct 08, 2009
- Judicial panel starts hearings in Kerala boat tragedy - Dec 20, 2010
- Government also blamed for Kerala boat tragedy (Lead) - Oct 20, 2009
- Two more held for Thekkady boat tragedy - Oct 15, 2009
- Three more bodies recovered from Thekkady lake, toll 44 (Lead) - Oct 03, 2009
- Kerala tourism authority blamed for 2009 boat tragedy - Aug 25, 2011
- Thekkady boat driver says officials were told of boat condition - Oct 22, 2009
- Thekkady boat had defects: Shipping expert - Oct 07, 2009
- All boats in Thekkady to undergo fitness tests: Minister - Oct 01, 2009
- Bodies of girl, mother found in Thekkady lake, toll 43 - Oct 03, 2009
- Kerala charters Kingfisher flight to take Thekkady victims home - Oct 01, 2009
Tags: anish, contract employees, culpable homicide, irrigation, judicial probe, kerala, ktdc, necessary license, oct 5, periyar wildlife sanctuary, safety and security, security measures, state government, superintendent, tourism development corporation, tourist destinations, tragedy, valsan, wednesday evening