The recent boat accident in Kerala’s Malappuram district that killed at least 22 people has raised several questions about the safety protocols for tourist boats in the state. The incident occurred near Thooval Theeram beach in the Tanur area of the district at around 7 pm Sunday. While police officials have said that the tourist boat could have overturned possibly due to overcrowding as it carried at least 30-40 passengers onboard, eyewitnesses have alleged that the operators ignored warnings that the boat was tilting to one side.

The tragedy has been attributed to a combination of factors that resulted in a lack of safety measures and oversight. One of the main reasons was the overcrowding of the boat beyond its capacity of 20 persons. This led to the boat tilting to one side, which caused it to capsize. Additionally, the vessel had only two exit doors and glass windows, making it difficult for passengers to escape to safety.

Another factor that contributed to the mishap was the lack of adherence to safety protocols for tourist boats. According to a report by Malayalam news channel Manorama, the boat had been functioning without a fitness certificate, which is mandatory for tourist boats. The report also alleged that the fateful vessel was initially a fishing boat, which was converted for the purpose of tourist services by the owner.

Eyewitnesses have further alleged that the operators of the month-old cruise service were urging more people to join, saying it was the ‘last trip of the day,’ despite the boat being overloaded. This suggests a lack of responsibility and disregard for the safety of passengers on the part of the boat operators.

In addition to these factors, it has been alleged that the boat violated the rule of vessels not being allowed to operate after 6 pm. This has been confirmed by PK Kunhalikutty, an MLA of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), who told PTI that the boat had violated this rule. Demanding a probe into the ‘man-made accident’, Kerala’s opposition leader VD Satheesan said, “Nobody even knows if the boat had a licence or not.”

The mishap has once again highlighted the need for stricter safety protocols for tourist boats in Kerala. The state government has ordered a judicial probe into the incident, and the police have registered a case against the boat’s owner for culpable homicide. The government has also announced ₹10 lakh compensation each to the families of the victims.

It is imperative that the authorities conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and take strict action against those found responsible. This should include not just the boat owner but also the operators and others who were involved in the violation of safety protocols. The tragedy has brought into focus the urgent need for better regulation of tourist boats in Kerala and underscores the importance of ensuring the safety of passengers.