Tanur: It was a night that M. Rajeev (Retired Headmaster), Anjali (school teacher) and Ambika, the prime witnesses of the Tanur boat accident, would like to erase from their memories. They were the ones who informed the fire force and the police about the incident.

Ambika, who is yet to recover from the shock, recounts, "I could see the well-lit boat from a distance, filled with activities. I could hear loud cheers of children who were dancing and having fun. But suddenly, the cheers turned into cries for help as the boat sank right in front of my eyes."

Ambika and Anjali alerted their neighbours and called in police and fireforce for help.

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M. Rajeev

“People around the region joined the rescue operation. Those who knew swimming jumped into the water, but it was very difficult to spot people at night. A few people who clung on to the top of the boat were the first to be rescued,” said Anjali, another witness to the incident. 

It’s been a month since the boat service started at Thuval Theeram. “However, hardly any safety regulations were followed. The ‘Atlantic’ boat which sank on Sunday night had people even on its deck,” recalls the family.

“There were regular complaints about the boat service; minor accidents had happened in the past as well,” says Rajeev.