Kerala snake boat accident: Death toll rises to three as one more body recovered

The body of one of the two missing persons in the 'palliyodam' (snakeboat) accident in Achankovil river was recovered on Sunday, September 11, by a diving team of the Indian Navy from the Southern Naval Command. Earlier on Saturday, two people died in the incident and search was one for two other missing persons.

With the Navy team recovering the body of a 40-year-old man, the total fatalities rose to three in the accident which occured on Saturday. The police and fire force personnel had on Saturday recovered the bodies of Adithyan (17) and Vineesh (39).

The 'palliyodam' which was on its way to participate in the 'Aranmula Uthrattadi Vallamkali' (boat race) capsized on Saturday morning in Achankovil river at Mavelikkara near Alappuzha. "...a diving request was received from the District Collector of Alappuzha, about a missing person in the river. The diving team under Southern Naval Command, Kochi responded immediately and commenced diving operations in the area," Navy said in a release. It said that after extensive diving operations, the mortal remains of the missing person was recovered by the team and were handed over to the district authorities.

A senior police official from the district said there were around 60 people on the boat which was at Mavelikkara, enroute Aranmula. The incident happened at Valiya Perumbuzha Kadavu near Mavelikkara at around 8.30 am. "The snakeboat lost its balance and most of the oarsmen swam to safety," police said.

The official said normally around 50 oarsmen will be onboard. Since the boat was going for the competition and was taking a pradakshinam (traditional circling in front of the deity), a few more people climbed overboard resulting in the accident.