Kerala boat tragedy: Govt forms 3-member judicial commission to probe

The Kerala government on Wednesday (May 10) constituted a three-member judicial commission to investigate the tourist boat accident that claimed the lives of 22 people in Malappuram district three days ago.

Headed by retired high court judge VK Mohanan, the commission will have technical experts Neelakandan Unni (Retd. Chief Engineer, Inland Waterways Authority of India) and Suresh Kumar (Chief Engineer, Kerala Waterways and Infrastructure Limited) as members.

Also read: Driver of boat which capsized and killed 22 in Kerala arrested

The decision to constitute the panel was taken by the state Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.

After visiting the victims in the hospitals in Malappuram on Monday, the Chief Minister had announced a judicial inquiry into the matter and a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of each of those who died in the accident.

Also read: Floating tragedies: How Kerala’s recreational boats flout safety norms, put lives at risk

Besides, Rs 25 lakh was also sanctioned for the medical expenses of the injured and rescue operations.

Apart from this, the Cabinet meeting also decided to bear the medical expenses of the injured for further treatment.

The boat carrying around 37 people capsized near an estuary close to the Thoovaltheeram beach in the Tanur area Sunday evening.

A special investigation team of the Kerala police was also constituted on Tuesday to probe the matter.