By IANS,
Alappuzha (Kerala) : The body of a Kerala fisherman, who was on a boat allegedly rammed by a ship off the coast near here earlier in the week, was recovered by naval divers from the fishing vessel’s wreck on sea bed Sunday. The body was cremated in Kollam.
A defence spokesperson told IANS that a 10-member navy diving team from the Southern Naval Command reached the wreck of fishing vessel Don I late Saturday evening.
“The body of Santhosh was found this (Sunday) morning from the boat itself,” said the spokesperson, adding that it was handed over to his relatives.
The divers brought the body to the harbour near here by and it was shifted to a medical college. It was later taken to his home town in Kollam.
With the recovery of Santhosh’s body, the death toll in the accident has gone up to three. Two other fishermen of the boat are yet to be traced.
The Indian authorities suspect that a Singapore-flagged ship may have been responsible for the sinking of the boat.
Ship M.V. Prabhu Daya is suspected to be involved in the collision on the high sea with the fishing vessel Don-1, according to a directorate general of shipping (DGS) statement issued late Saturday night.
Accordingly to the DGS, the ship staff had agreed to divert to Chennai port for an inquiry. It is expected to reach Chennai Monday.