Kerala Boat Tragedy: India Needs Strict Safety Policies For Tourism, Adventure Sports

In 2022, I was getting down from a bigger ferry on a speed boat when I felt my left leg piercing through a sharp object. In less than a minute, the sole of my foot started bleeding profusely. We looked back to see what I'd hit and saw an uncovered iron-clad seat. It seemed like almost all seats on that boat were either broken or uncovered.

What if it had been a child? What if my entire leg had pierced through it? There wasn't a first-aid kit on the boat, my foot remained as is all through the 1.5 hours we reached the nearest land and then the hospital. The people handling the boat pretended nothing happened, leave alone help me while my friend screamed for help in the middle of the sea before a doctor on board who was on vacation rushed to hold my leg and prevented my foot from bleeding further. I received several stitches and couldn't walk for a month. My friend and I complained to the water sports adventure agency but didn't hear back. We decided never to go for such water sports again in the area as there are zero safety measures used, but is this the solution? Looking at the recent mishaps across adventure sports and tourism outings in the country, certainly not.

Kerala Boat Tragedy Negligence

On Sunday, a tourist boat in Kerala, which allegedly had the capacity to accommodate 25 people, had about 40-50 people on board. What happened after it set sail is a tragedy that has shocked the nation. The incident, which took place in the evening hours in the Tanur area of Malappuram, Kerala, has led to 22 deaths with several people still missing. The death toll, which also includes children, resulted from the double-decker boat's overturn.

What's shocking is that the boat, which overturned and sank near Tuvalthiram Beach, did not have a safety certificate. The owner is now booked on account of culpable homicide, as per the police reports. While the exact number of people on board is still unknown as many checked in on the deck without a ticket, it's reported that the people in charge took in double the number of people allowed as per the safety norms.

The rescue operations are currently in full swing. The Indian Navy helicopter Chetak was brought in to help with search and rescue last evening, apart from the underwater cameras that are being used to track the ones missing.

Why Accountability Matters?

Grave negligence turned tragic for several families and although the government has announced compensation for the victims, is that enough? Will it bring back their loved ones?

The important question here is why was the boat overcrowded. Why was the boat operative going past the time actually allotted for tourists? Apart from the owner, who are the people in the authority at the Poorapuzha estuary at Ottumpuram that allowed such a decision in the first place?

Recent incidents

Several recent incidents have shown how tourism in the country has lost all accountability. Recently, Prisheena Gollamandala, a 28-year-old woman had a deadly accident in Himachal Pradesh during a paragliding experience. The Hyderabad-based software engineer was on her honeymoon to the hill state when she decided to do paragliding in Kullu Valley. The minimal safety standards by the unit led to her fall from nearly 15 feet. She is currently healing from surgery after suffering severe spinal injuries.

It's distressing that poor regulations and sheer negligence across states in the country have become the norm. From trekking to rafting, paragliding to diving, several incidents involving injuries and deaths have surfaced in the recent past. How are these agencies and companies even getting a license if they're not equipped well? From loose ropes to a crooked seat on a boat, from overcrowding to neglecting age criteria, rules are constantly being broken, and for what? Has human life become so cheap? Is a person's safety, not a priority anymore? It's about time all stakeholders take accountability and set stricter safety standards to be abided by across all tourist destinations and adventure sports.

Photo credits: The Hindu, One India, NDTV

Suggested reading: Woman Injured In Paragliding Crash During Honeymoon In Himachal Pradesh