THEKKADY: No safety measures like life jacket or life guard were in place in the boat that sank in Thekkady lake claiming at least 25 lives today, eyewitnesses to one of the worst water tragedies in Kerala said.
Smitha Maurya, who saw the mishap from another boat close by, said there was no life jacket or life guard in the boat.
A tourist from Tamil Nadu, who managed to swim to safety, said the accident took place within half an hour after the cruise began. The boat tilted when most of those on board moved to one side to have a better glimpse of a herd of deer grazing close to the bank. He said the boat sank in the middle of the lake. I dont know how I managed to escape from the capsized boat," he said.