Boat capsizes, joy ride ends in disaster
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 27:
A joy ride at the scenic Loukoipat turned out to be a tragedy for a group of tourists from Yairipok when four of them including a mother and her son died when the boat they were riding in capsized in the middle of the lake at around 1.10 pm today.
Seven persons have also been hospitalised in the unfortunate incident.
The deceased have been identified as Keisam Ongbi Lata (40) w/o of Keisam Shantikumar, her son K Barlin (12), Naoba (7) son of Santikumar�s younger brother Loken, all residents of Yairipok Bishnunaha Awang Leikai and Khaidem Kumar (52) of Bishnupur Ward No 1. Kumar was rowing the boat when the mishap occurred.
According to information received by the press, around 50 tourists from Yairipok Bishnunaha came for sightseeing at Loukoipat today.
Fifteen of them were enjoying the boat ride when it capsized in the middle of the lake.
Out of five persons brought to RIMS for treatment, with exception of Huirem Prema (28) w/o Premjit of Yairipok Bishnunaha Awang Leikai, the rest passed away en-route.
The bodies have been kept at the mortuary of RIMS.
On hearing about the mishap, personnel of Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry stationed nearby immediately jumped into the water and rescued a number of tourists.
It is that said without the efforts of the security personnel, the casualty would have been much higher.
Some of the rescued tourists were also reportedly given necessary first aid treatment at the unit hospital of the security personnel.
On being contacted, the Deputy Commissioner of Bishnupur described the incident as �very unfortunate�.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, the officer said that the boat probably capsized as it was over loaded.
There were about 15 of them aboard the boat he said.
Taking a serious note of the incident, the members of the Ecological Park Committee are scheduled to meet tomorrow at 1 pm to discuss the matter.
Steps to avert such a tragedy will also be discussed besides other important points, said the DC.
Acknowledging the prompt rescue operations launched by the people, especially the troops of JK Rifles personnel, the DC said that the toll could have been higher if the people had not responded to the situation so quickly.
Apart from the JK Rifles men, the officer also extended his sincere gratitude to MLA Govindas and members of AMSU and DESAM for their help.
On immediate receipt of the information a host of officers including the DC himself, SP, Additional SP, DSP and others rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.
Contradicting the explanation given by the DC, some other people who had taken the boat for a ride earlier in the day said that there were leaks in the boat and added that they had to scoop out water from the boat during their ride.
Meanwhile, a PIB (DW) statement said prompt and daring action by the men in uniform of 73 Mountain Brigade averted what otherwise could have been a serious tragedy by rescuing 12 out of 16 persons from drowning when a boat capsized in Loukoipat today.
Four persons including two children, however, could not escape and their bodies were found under the boat entangled in the weeds and slush at the bottom of the lake.