One of the major boat tragedies ever, 20th February 2007 will ever be marked in black letters in the heart of Keralites; the cursed evening of the day saw one of the biggest boat tragedies of the state’s history.
‘Boothathankettu’, part of ‘Perriyar’ river 1.5 Km away from the popular Thattekad Bird Sanctuary’ took a heart breaking 18 lives to their eternal sleep.
The pictures and video clipping of the tragedy is still haunting hearts. The fact that the majority of the deceased were innocent children between 10 and 13 years of age and that many of them were from same families has been agonizing news; the sight of small funeral boxes lined up were unbearable to those who gathered.
For those who lost the loved ones, tears are not going to dry anytime soon and nothing can ever take the place of what they have lost.
We can only hope that the prayers and support entire Malayalai community share, would somehow make a difference to those who are grieving. All our hearts are weeping with them and let us hope they pull through the drastic situation.
A group of 106 school children and 12 teachers were touring the sanctuary in three boats when the boat at the center drowned taking along with it the lives of 15 sweet little children and three teachers. The children were from’ Elavur’ and ‘Pulliyanam’ villages of ‘Parakadavu’ gramapanchayat of Eranakulam district. They were the students of the 5th, 6th, and 7th standards of St. Antony’s U.P school situated within the premises of ‘Ellavur St.Antony’s’ Church.
Out of the 118 members who left the church happy and joyful, only 100 were destined to see the shore again. The number of those alive would have been even lesser if some of the brave teachers and students had not pulled many out of the death trap.
