By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Kochi: Eight students were killed when a boat capsized in the Chaliyar River in Malappuram yesterday. All the deceased – seven boys and a girl- are students of the Subulussalam Higher Secondary School at Areacode. The dead bodies of six were buried today. The Directorate of General Education declared public holiday in Malappuram district today.
Suhail (18), Shahidali (16), Mushfiq (16), Thoufeeq (16), Sirajudheen (18), Shihabudheen (16), Shameem (17) and Thayyiba (16) lost their lives in the tragedy. Jithin (17) who is seriously injured is undergoing treatment in the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.
A lot of students had boarded the small boat which reportedly caused the tragedy. Reports suggest that the boat capsized when the students sitting in one side stood up. The students immediately fell into the river and drowned as all had heavy bags on their back.
There were about 25 students –reportedly higher secondary students- in the boat. The accident took place as the boat was moving from Moorkkanad to Pulikkal. The students were returning home from school at around 4.45 pm. The accident took place about 15 metres off the land, where the depth of the river is reportedly 20 metres. Local people and labourers working nearby carried out the rescue and relief activities. Six students died in the hospital while two died on the spot.
The bodies were taken to the Government Community Health Centre and the Public Hospital at Areacode, and then handed over to the families without any autopsy.
State Minister for Public Works Paloli Muhammed Kutty, ET Muhammed Basheer, MP, MI Shanvas, MP, PV Abdul Vahab, MP, ADGP Mahesh Kumar Singhla, Malappuram District Collector MC Mohan Das and District Police Superintendent M Padmanabhan reached the spot immediately.
State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan announced that the government would construct a hanging bridge at Moorkkanad where the accident had taken place. The compensation amounts for the families of the victims would be announced after getting the permission of the Election Commission as the bye-elections to the Assembly are only hours away.
[Photo by www.topnews.in]