Malappuram: Autopsies were completed on victims of boat accident in Tanur in record time. Health Minister Veena George convened an emergency meeting post the tragedy and directed for speedy procedures and postmortems so as to release the bodies to bereaved families at the earliest.
All autopsies were complete by 10 am morning. Doctors from neighbouring districts of Kozhikode and Thrissur were put on duty for the purpose. The postmortems were carried out at hospitals in Tirurangadi, Pweinthalmanna and Malappruram, and at Manjeri Medical College.
The accident
Private cruise boat named “Atlantic” capsized 700 meters from shore in the estuary close to Thooal Theeram at Ottumpuram late Sunday evening around 7:30 pm. 22 including 12 children were drowned to death. 11 passengers were rescued, of whom , 8 are undergoing treatment at MIMS hospital in Kottakkal. A 7-year-old is hospitalised at Kozhikode Medical College. Of the survivors, seven children at MIMS are in critical condition.
The total number of passengers on board has not been determined. Families from varied parts of Kerala had been on the boat for weekend holiday. The vessel is owned by Tanur native Nassar.
According to witness account, the boat sloped to a side and tossed over completely. Another cruise boat that came close behind saw the accident happen. They alerted authorities and started to search for passengers who became submerged under the vessel.
