Navy commences search operations in Thekkady lake

The Navy resumed search operations in Thekkady lake in Periyar wildlife sanctuary here this morning, scouring for any more trapped bodies of victims of Wednesday's boat tragedy, which has claimed 41 lives.

Naval divers "are conducting expanding circular search," naval sources told PTI. Police, forest guards, fire force personnel and local people are also assisting in the search.

The search operations, involving Navy divers and helicopters, were called off yesterday evening as they were hampered by inclement weather.

Ernakulam district collector KM Beena said four more bodies were brought here from a hospital at Thiruvalla early this morning and airlifted to Delhi. Two more bodies would be
airlifted to Mumbai by this afternoon, she told PTI.

Late last night, 15 embalmed bodies of the victims were flown in two chartered Kingfisher flights at around midnight, while three bodies were sent by scheduled flights.

Last night, officials here waited in vain for the Indian Air Force (IAF) flight which did not arrive. Sources said it was then decided to make use of Kingfisher flights.

The double decker boat, carrying tourists from different states, had capsized in the famous Thekkady lake on Wednesday evening in the worst-ever boat tragedy in Kerala.

According to eyewitnesses, the boat toppled when some tourists rushed to one side of the vessel to catch a glimpse of wild animals. Some survivors blamed the steer-man for the
tragedy.