KOCHI: Bineesh, a 32-year-old Palakkad native, went missing when the water scooter he was riding along with his two friends capsized in the backwaters near Marine Drive in Kochi on Thursday. Jomon George of Kannur and Govindarasu B of Salem were rescued and admitted in the Ernakulam General Hospital with minor injuries. Bineesh was a graphic designer with Baama Ventures and Events, an outdoor advertising firm in the city.
The vessel, owned by Kerala Inland Navigation Corporation (KINCO), has been leased by the Baama Ventures. The vessel was under maintenance for technical glitches, police officials said, adding that technicians had repaired the three-seater jet-ski on Thursday, too. The mishap took place when the trio was having a test drive of the scooter, they added.
A person involved in the accident being helped by rescue workers. (Photo: DC)
Police sources said lack of experience and poor security protocols led to the mishap. The water scooter turned upside down when they tried to make U-turn around 200 metres away from the Marine Drive walkway. Bineesh and his friends were thrown into the water when they lost control of the jet-ski . While Bineesh was washed away by the currents, his friends managed grab onto the floating vehicle. Police said no one was wearing life jacket while going for the high-speed drive.
A search operation launched jointly by Indian Navy, Coastal Police, Fire and Rescue and Kerala Marine Enforcement Wing to find the missing person continued till late evening. Fort Kochi sub-collector S. Suhas said a team of professional divers from Muvattupuzha will be pressed into search operations soon. The strong undercurrent is hampering search operations, he added. Ernakulam Central Police has registered a case and preliminary probe is on into the circumstance of the accident.
New team to deal with boat mishaps
The possibility of forming a disaster management force to deal with boast mishaps will be explored in an expeditious manner, said Commodore R. Radhakrishna Iyer, Commanding Officer of INS Garuda. Kochi mayor Soumini Jain broached the possibility of forming such a special force, when the Commodore called on her on Thursday. Commodore Iyer assured her to look into the suggestion expeditiously.
