After hearing a petition on the regulation of boats in the wake of the Godavari boat tragedy, the Supreme Court allowed for a notice to be issued to the Union government on Monday. According to Times of India, former Amalapuram MP G V Harsha Kumar had filed a PIL seeking the court to direct the government to frame guidelines for inland waterways.
On September 15, a boat called Royal Vasishta had been ferrying 77 people through the Papikondalu towards Bhadrachalam when it had capsized near Kachuluru. While 26 tourists were rescued by villagers, the bodies of 38 others were retrieved later by rescue teams. More than a month after the accident, the boat was retrieved recently in October, when a few more bodies were found.
According to Hindu, the Union of India, Union Ministry of Shipping, Inland Waterways Authority of India, the States of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam were made respondents in the petition.
The boat was being driven by Sandadi Nukuraju, an experienced driver who got his licence issued in 1985. However, due to the unavailability of drivers who knew the route, Sandadi was roped in as driver but he had no experience on the Godavari river route.
Police said that the accident happened because of the driver’s carelessness. Instead of driving the boat close to the left bank as is the usual practice, he took the boat through the centre of the floodwaters, causing the boat to capsize.
The owner of the boat, Kodigudla Venkataraman and his KVR Tours and Travels company, were held responsible for the accident. The owner was booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 304 (II) read with Section 34) of the IPC with the Devipatnam Police station.
Earlier, police had arrested the boat managers, Kodigudla Venkataraman, Yalla Prabhavati and Yarramsetti Achyutamani. They were accused of sending the boat with an inexperienced driver, knowing that the water was flooded and dangerous, and could pose a threat to the tourists' lives.
The state government has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident, and has also set up a special committee headed by Special Chief Secretary (Irrigation) to investigate the accident. The Revenue Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary of Tourism, Additional DG of Law and Order and Collector of East Godavari are the other members on the committee.