At Least 22 Dead After Tourist Boat Capsizes in Southern India
New York TimesMAY 2023
Though Kerala is known for its beaches and backwaters and is a popular tourist destination for Indians and foreigners alike, its boats are often overcrowded, poorly maintained, and lack safety equipment. Since the boat service in Malappuram had started only a few months ago as part of a state government initiative, officials must be held accountable for lax regulations and implementation of safety rules.
Apart from the state government, the onus of the disaster lies on the boat owner as the boat allegedly did not have a safety certificate, did not have enough life jackets, and was not permitted to operate that late in the day. If the ferry owners continue to blatantly break security and safety rules, such tragedies will, unfortunately, continue to reoccur.