Boat carrying tourists in the Kochi backwaters. (File) -DC
Kochi: Hundreds of passengers were stranded at boat jetties in the city following a lightning strike by the workers of passenger boats operating on various routes.
The strike, which was withdrawn later, was called after seven boat workers were allegedly manhandled by a group of passengers on Wednesday night.
The workers of 13 boats protested demanding the arrest of those who attacked their colleagues. Several regular commuters from Ernakulam jetty to Mattancherry, Fort Kochi and Vypeen had to depend on buses to reach their destinations.
The strike was withdrawn and services resumed by 3.30 p.m. after the police arrested the accused.
The incident occurred on the last trip of Vypeen – Ernakulam service. A five-member inebriated group of youngsters, who boarded the boat from Vypeen, wanted the workers to disembark them at Fort Kochi.
However, the workers said that the service could be operated as per schedule. The irate commuters manhandled the workers and damaged the boat and the ticket machine. The injured were admitted to Ernakulam government general hospital.
There are complaints that boat workers face the rude behaviour of passengers after the Fort Kochi boat accident.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
Next Story
