KAKINADA: The recent boat capsize in Pasuvula Lanka of I Polavaram mandal was due to its engine failure, locals have alleged. They also blamed the school administration for holding the Vanam-Manam programme last Saturday, the day when the accident took place.
“If the programme was not conducted on Saturday, when it was raining heavily, the accident could have been avoided,” they said. Though the Pasuvula Lanka panchayat receives Rs 70,000 per annum for the maintenance of boats, still an unfit boat was used for transportation, they alleged. The panchayat, with a population of 4,000, is located on one side of Gautami river which is a distributary of Godavari. Hamlets located on the other side of the distributary are Serilanka, Kothalanka, Seetharampuram and Saladivaripalem.
Every village has the population of about 2,000 and 3,000. As many as 153 children from the nearby hamlets study at the Pasuvula Lanka ZP High School, which has a teaching staff of eight. Meanwhile, school headmaster N Satyanarayana said the Vanam Manam programme was held after instructions from government officials. The school was supposed to remain closed on account of the second Saturday. The headmaster said the accident took place when the students were returning after completion of the programme and that he was unaware of the changing weather condition.
The boat, with a capacity to transport 10-15 people, was carrying more than 30 persons at the time of the accident. It received severe damage after it hit one of the pillars of an under-construction bridge, following which it capsized.
After the incident, the firm constructing the bridge in Pasuvula Lanka provided the locals with a barge for the safe commute. However, claiming the barge was not making enough trips, they damaged nearby tents, in the presence of mandal-level officers, on Monday. Permission of boat operation for transportation in the region was given to one Saladi Venkateswara Rao on April 2018. Allegations were also made that he was overcharging passengers. Residents of the lankas or river islets are majorly dependent on agriculture for their source of income.
Blame game
If the programme was not held on Saturday, the accident could have been avoided, say, locals,
After the accident, the firm constructing the bridge in Pasuvula Lanka provided the locals with a barge for the safe commute
Locals claimed the barge was not making enough trips
They damaged the nearby tents, in the presence of mandal-level officers, on Monday