Judicial probe ordered into Kerala boat tragedy

A judicial probe would be held into the boat tragedy at Thekkady in Kerala's Idukki district which claimed 36 lives, Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan announced today. The service of a Kerala High Court sitting judge would be sought for the probe, he told reporters here.

Achuthanandan also announced a solatium of Rs5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased. A state-run double deck boat carrying 74 tourists had capsized in the famous Thekkady lake in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary yesterday.