Boat tragedy: Minister confronted by an angry relative

C Divakaran was confronted by an agitated relative who demanded an apology when he visited the homes of Delhiites who died in the boat tragedy at Thekkady.

Kerala Food and Civil Supplies C Divakaran was confronted by an agitated relative who demanded an apology when he visited the homes of Delhiites who died in the boat tragedy at Thekkady.

Six members of a family in Paschim Vihar and four members of another family in the same area and Harinder Singh and Palika from Delhi were among those who had died in the accident. The Minister called on their families yesterday to express his condolences.

One relative raising his voice repeatedly insisted that the minister say ‘sorry’ for the mishap which claimed the lives of 41 persons. Divakar however took the line that the accident was beyond the control of the state government.

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When he refused to relent,Divakaran snapped back and took offence to his shouting. “How loudly you are shouting. I have gone to the houses of the victims. Nobody has shouted like you. I am sorry. I am sorry,” he said.

At one stage,the minister said he spent a “sleepless night” after the Wednesday tragedy to which the relative said “our whole life is going to be sleepless now.”

The minister was told the tragedy could have perhaps been avoided if life jackets were made available in the ill-fated boat of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC).

“Are you putting me on trial,” he asked.

He was also told that the kith and the kin of the victims were not interested in any cash compensation. “We don’t need this money. We need a better infrastructure,” the relative said.

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The Minister had made arrangements for receiving bodies for the Kerala government in Delhi and sent them to the homes of the dead.

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