The decision to exempt the tourism sector from ‘hartal’, though taken at the eleventh hour, seems to have worked. Tourists, for a change, were not put to serious difficulties during the dawn-to-dusk hartal. However, many had to put on hold their plans to go sightseeing as taxis and autorickshaws kept off the road, and houseboats, especially in Alappuzha, refused to ply. Reports of tourist vehicles being blocked did emerge from destinations like Munnar and Kovalam but swift intervention by the police and revenue authorities ensured that tourists were not detained long. Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the day was the smooth ‘turnaround’ at Kochi, a rare two-way movement of tourists.
While one group of 2000-odd tourists disembarked the Italian cruise ship AIDAbella and moved towards the Nedumbassery airport to fly back to their countries, another group landed in Nedumbassery in two flights and moved from the airport to the Cochin Port Trust (CPT) harbor to board the luxury cruise liner. “The passengers who reached the city on ship even managed to do some sightseeing in and around Kochi, including Fort Kochi and Mattancherry, and some even drove up to Vaikom and Alappuzha,” said CPT traffic manager Jimmy George. Out of the 2000 passengers, 1300 passengers took flights back to their countries.
Congress leaders Benny Behnan, N. Venugopal, K. Babu, K.P. Dhanapalan and Abdhul Muthalib at the protest gathering in front of Ernakulam Collectorate in Kochi on Monday. (Photo: DC)
An equal number of turnaround passengers arrived by flights, and they had a smooth passage to the CPT. Taxis from Willingdon Island were pressed into service. Tourists did not miss out on shopping either. “35 handicrafts and other shops from Fort Kochi and Mattancherry put up their stalls at the CPT,” Mr George said. This was more than what we had bargained for, tourism director U V Jose said. The Department had set up a help desk at the headquarters, and had put two dedicated staff from morning to evening. “We had calls from 20-odd places and in all these cases we intervened through the district administration,” the director said.
The GPO march taken out by the LDF-led hartal sponsoring committee in Thiruvananthapuram Monday.(Photo: DC)
“We had expected some trouble as the decision to exempt the sector was taken late and it was only natural that the message had not percolated down to the level of political workers,” Mr Jose said. In Munnar, tourists were blocked at various places including at the front of the Kanan Devan Hills Plantations limited office at the centre of the town. Tourists were also blocked at Chinnakanal, some 16 kms from Munnar. “After we received complaints of road blocks in Munnar, we got in touch with union leaders and the sub-collector did the rest,” the tourism director said. In Kovalam, the Vizhinjam CI ensured the smooth movement of tourists.
Aam Admi Party taking out a protest march against demonetisation in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. (Photo: DC)
Properties in Kumarakom, however, did face some logistical issues. At least 40 tourists who sought rooms at Coconut Lagoon had to wait till afternoon before they could be provided accommodation. “This happened because the hartal forced tourists who were scheduled to check out to wait at the reception till their travel issues were ironed out,” said G Samboo, the general manager of Coconut Lagoon. Taxis were in short supply. Samboo said that the property sent out its motor boats to pick tourists who were stranded in Alappuzha. However, in contrast to Alappuzha, houseboats in Kumarakom did function.
Youth swims across river, collapses on bank
In an act of bravado, a youth tried to swim across Pampa river at Pulinkunnu after the ferry service was suspended due to hartal on Monday, and lost his life as he reached his goal. Police said Kalesh, 32, Mannaruparambil house, Punnakkuthussery, Pul-imkunnu collapsed after he reached the other bank of the river. The incident happened at 2 pm. Police said an arecanut plucker Kalesh has been suffering from heart ailment. Though the ferry that carry the vehicles across did not operate, small country crafts that usually operate took people across the river on the hartal day also.
"It seems that he tried the mode not because there was no craft to take him across. There is a bridge also across the river a bit far. It could be an attempt of bravado or a different reason could be there. We are probing whether he was under the influence of alcohol also. We are awaiting the postmortem results," said the sub-inspector Ajay Mohan. Though Kalesh was rushed to the taluk hospital at Pulimkunnu, he was declared brought dead. The body was shifted to mortuary. The postmortem examination will be held on Tuesday, police said.
