21 die as overcrowded tourist boat capsizes in Andaman; PM expresses shock

Port Blair: At least 21 persons were killed on Sunday when an overcrowded tourist boat capsized on the Andaman Sea near here in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Two passengers were missing and 23 persons were rescued after the boat carrying 46 passengers sank on its way from Ross Island to the North Bay at around 4 PM, said P Johar, Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman district.

Sources in the district administration said that the boat had a capacity to carry 25 people, but there were 46 passengers on board. Most of the tourists were from Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu while others were from Mumbai in addition to the crew-members.

Civil administration and defence establishments like the Coast Guard rescued 23 passengers and efforts were on to trace the whereabouts of two missing, the sources said.

It was suspected that some persons might have been trapped in the cabin of the boat 'Aqua Marine'.

A rescuer helicopter search for survivors - PTI

The tourists from Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu were staying in a resort at Prothrapur in South Andaman district.

Lt Governor Lt Gen (Retd) A.K. Singh announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to the family of the deceased.

Singh also spoke to Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and briefed him on the rescue operation he ordered after the accident.

The rescued persons were admitted to the G B Pant Hospital in Port Blair. The bodies were also taken there for postmortem, the sources said.

Helpline numbers set up at the district control room are: 1070, 03192-240127/230178/238881 and those in the G B Pant Hospital are: 03192-230629/9933274092. The local helpline number is 102.

Additional District Magistrate of South Andaman has been directed to conduct a magisterial enquiry into the incident. 

PM expresses shock

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday expressed shock over the boat tragedy that took place in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and asked all central agencies to assist in rescue operations.

"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has expressed shock over the boat tragedy in the Andamans and has condoled the loss of lives," a PMO statement said.

"The Prime Minister has asked all central agencies to immediately assist in the rescue and relief operations," the statement added.

Next: Jaya deputes 2 officers, announces Rs 1L to family family of victims

Jaya deputes 2 officers, announces Rs 1L to family family of victims

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday announced it has deputed two senior officers to coordinate with victims of the boat tragedy in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while opening a helpline to share information with their relatives.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa expressed grief and regret over the incident and said 33 of the total 46 persons travelling in the boat hailed from Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu, but it was not clear how many of the deceased belonged to the state.

In a statement the Chief Minister said soon after coming to know of the incident, she had asked Chief Secretary Sheela Balakrishnan to talk to her Andaman counterpart, but the local administration there has so far no information on the number of victims from her state.

"Under these circumstances, I have directed Tamil Nadu Revenue Administration Commissioner and the Revenue Secretary to visit Port Blair and take steps for the appropriate medical treatment of the rescued persons. Further, I have asked that the rescued persons be sent back to Chennai by flight at government expense," Jayalalithaa said.

She said the state government would also bear the cost of flying the bodies of the deceased persons back to Tamil Nadu, which would be handed over to relatives in Kanchipuram district.

Further the government has opened a helpline 1070 regarding information of this tragic incident, she said. The Chief Minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh each to families of the victims.