Three dead in Andaman boat capsizing hail from Maharashtra

Of the dead, three hailed from Maharashtra, 16 from Tamil Nadu and one each from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The survivors included seven from Maharashtra, 15 from Tamil Nadu, two from New Delhi, one each from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh and three from the Andaman Islands.

One missing person from Kanchipuram was feared dead, source said.

The rescued persons were admitted to the G B Pant Hospital in Port Blair. Sources in the district administration said the boat had a carrying capacity of about 25 people but was carrying double the number of tourists from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, New Delhi, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh besides, the Andamans.

Of the 16 dead from Kanchipuram, 10 were women besides a child. The other three women victims hailed from Mumbai, Kolkata and Uttar Pradesh respectively.

The civil administration pressed into service Police Fast Interceptor boats, shipping vessels, coast guard vessels and coast guard helicopters. Lt Governor Lt Gen (Retd) A K Singh had announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to the family of the deceased and conveyed his condolences to the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra from where most of the victims hailed.

Arrangements were being made to despatch the bodies to their respective places, the sources said.

Additional District Magistrate of South Andaman has been directed to conduct a magisterial enquiry.