The drowning accident in the Krishna river off Vijayawada was easily avoidable if only life jackets were provided to those coming on board the vessel that capsized. In typical fashion of exploiting tourists at the height of the season, when there is a huge demand for transportation to spots across the river, more people were allowed on board than the boat was meant to carry. It’s not too much to expect the basic minimum safety requirement to be followed. Nor is the argument valid that it’s a livelihood issue: that boatmen have to earn their keep while the going is good. By compromising on safety, the small businesses operating the boats and ferries are putting too many lives at risk.
The boat reportedly ran into a sandbank in the river, that often sports very strong currents. It seems clear that the boatmen weren’t trained navigators. Ironically, the new boat was on a maiden run soon after being commissioned into service. An inquiry will help bring out all the facts of the case, which must be studied to ensure the system improves and learns to avoid pitfalls. It’s India’s tragedy that such events keep recurring and nothing is learnt from them. The system isn’t geared to meet minimum performance standards like following basic operating and safety procedures. Instead of laying down strict guidelines and enforcing them through periodic inspections, governments tend to act only after a tragedy. However sympathetic the announcement of compensation for the families of the dead may sound, there’s no escaping the conclusion that human lives are regarded as cheap in India.
