9 drown, several missing as fishing boat capsizes

Around 30 persons, after attending a temple festival at Azhagammanpuram near Thattarmadam in Thoothukudi district, had gone to Manapad to spend the holiday. A fisherman Selvam had taken all 30 in a fibreglass boat owned by one Densingh. 

When the boat reached some distance off the shore, heavy winds caused the boat to capsize. In the accident, all 30 fell into the sea. However, one of the persons, Karthigesan, who also travelled in the boat, managed to rescue some of them. 

Five persons sustained injuries. Many were still missing and their fate was not known at the time of going to print. 

After seeing the tourists screaming for help, local fishermen rushed to their rescue. The death count is set to increase as many were still missing. The injured have been admitted to the Government Hospital in Tiruchendur as well as in a private hospital. 

Gunaseelan, a resident of Udangudi, who was at Manapad, said that overcrowding of people on the boat had caused it to overturn. The boat had the capacity to ferry only 10 people but the fishermen had accommodated 30. Overcrowding as well as strong winds turned the boat over, he said. 

None of the tourists were provided with life jackets. Thyagarajan, RDO, Tiruchendur and other local officials visited the spot immediately and supervised rescue operations. Thoothukudi District Collector, M Ravi Kumar, visited the government hospital and consoled the injured tourists. 

As night had set in, rescue operations were hampered. However, local fishermen were involved in the search and rescue operations. 

This is the second major boat tragedy in Tamil Nadu after a similar incident at Pulicat on December 25, 2011. It may be recalled that the Christmas joy ride turned into a tragedy for 22 persons when the boat capsized near the sea mouth of the Pulicat lake backwaters.