Nehru Trophy race put off due to rain, floods

ALAPPUZHA: The 67th edition of Nehru Trophy Boat Race slated to be held at Punnamada Lake on Saturday has been postponed due to the heavy rain and flood situation in the state.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the decision after the emergency meeting at Thiruvananthapuram in the morning. According to the district administration, new date will be declared later.

This second consecutive time NTBR is postponed. Last  year, the Champions Boat League was planned to be kicked off but it got cancelled. Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar had been invited as chief guest on the both occasions.   

The NTBR Society had made all arrangements for the event and the rescheduling could cause huge financial liability to the society. As many as 81 boats had been registered to contest in different categories this time.

Around 23 snake boats had finished weeks-long preparation for the contest. Many boat race lovers  also reserved their tickets.  It was also nominated as the qualifying round of the debut Champions Boat Race League.  

NTBR was rescheduled in 2002 mourning Muhamma boat tragedy which took place on July 27 that year, claiming lives of as many as 29 people, majority of them PSC aspirants.

Meanwhile, the district continued witness heavy rain on Friday. Two camps were opened in Chengannur taluk where 25  people from eight families were accommodated. NDRF team has also reached in the district to deal with the floods.