COUNTRY BOAT CAPSIZED IN THE CHALIYAR RIVER

COUNTRY BOAT CAPSIZED
IN THE CHALIYAR RIVER

Eight students, including a girl, drowned when a country boat ferrying them across the Chaliyar river at Moorkanad, Areekode in Malappuram district capsized on Wednesday 4th November, 2009. The accident occurred at 4.45 pm when the students were returning home from school. The victims were plus one and plus two students in the 16-18 age group.
Eye witness said the boat was carrying 40 students of Sub-us- salem Higher secondary school, Moorkanad. Sand mining workers and local people rescued the rest of the students who fell in to the river. Many students swam to safety. The Fire and Rescue Service personnel and police officers are conducting search operations. A 15 member naval team has started to help in the rescue efforts.
The bodies of eight students who drowned in a country boat accident on the chaliyar at Morrkanad in Areekodu, Malappuram, were buried on thursday 5th November. the people of Areekode bid a tearful farewell to the students during the funeral.
A holiday was declared for all schools in Malappuram district on thursay 5th November and a dawn to dusk hartal was observed at Areekode as a mark of respect to the departed students.
Revenue Minister K.P Rajendran said a foot bridge would to built across the chaliyar at moorkanad on a war footing. The Malappuram R.D.O began investigation in to the accident and the district administration filed a report to the chief Minister.
APPEAL TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT
The operators of tourist boat in the northern districts of the state appealed to the state government to subsidise life jackets and other safety standards in view of the Thekkady boat tragedy which claimed the lives of 45 tourists. They appealed to the government to provide free insurance cover for the tourist boats and the tourists.

Prof: John Kurakar