THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A high-level probe would be conducted into the boat mishap at Thekaddy on Wednesday, said Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan.
An emergency meeting of the State Cabinet was convened here following the incident to take stock of the situation.
Achuthanandan later told reporters that Home and Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran, Forest Minister Benoy Viswam and Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran have been directed to rush to Thekaddy to supervise the rescue operations.
Idukki and Kottayam district collectors have been directed to mobilise the maximum number of doctors for providing medical assistance to the boat tragedy victims. Achuthanandan said that soon after the mishap, Defence Minister A.K. Antony was contacted and he had taken immediate steps to provide helicopters, search facilities and 50 divers from the Navy and Air Force for rescue operations.
Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran told `Express’ that an unit of National Disaster Response Force from Arkonam was being rushed to Thekkady for rescue operations.
Opposition leader Oommen Chandy who is in Delhi is also rushing to the spot. The Government has opened a control room to provide details about the mishap. The phone number of the control room is 0471 2331403.