Unfit Jhankar was given certificate to function

Kochi: One of the jhankars that used to ply in the Fort Kochi-Vypeen route till recently was actually not fit for operation but was still allotted a fitness certificate, it was alleged.

The jhankar got the fitness certificate just a week before the Fort Kochi boat tragedy on August 26 despite the fact that a hole had developed in the basement and was covered by a concrete mix, charged Francis Chammani, president of the Vypeen Boat Passengers Association.

“Post the boat accident, the Ports department and the Cochin Port asked the contractor to submit the jhankars again for a fitness test but they are yet to comply. A probe should be ordered on how the fitness certificate was alloted earlier and why the owner is not submitting the jhankar for the test now,” Chammani said.

It was on August 26 that MV Bharat, the ferry boat plying in the Vypeen – Fort Kochi sector met with an accident when a speeding fishing craft hit it, killing 11 people.

There were about 40 passengers on the ill-fated boat over three decades old, also operated by the same contractor.

The association deman-ded that the corporation should directly operate both the ferry and the Jh-ankars instead of leasing them out to a third party.

Meanwhile, a team led by Professor S.K. Pyarilal of the department of ship technology, Cusat, will inspect the ferry taken on rent by the corporation on Sunday.

“During the trial run, it was found to be fit to operate in the route cutting across the shipping canal. Now factors such as the maple, roof, railings etc will be checked,” he said.