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Five die, three missing in double boat tragedy at Mannar sea
View(s):Five people – four from one family — were drowned and three reported missing in two boat tragedies off the Mannar coast yesterday afternoon amid choppy seas and gusty winds. One of the boats transporting 18 people going on a picnic capsized in Musali while a smaller fishing vessel sank off Mullikulam in the Mannar area.
The ill fated boat: Meant for 8, but had 18 on board when the tragedy occurred
Thirteen of the people travelling in the picnic boat were rescued. The drowned were a Navy sailor’s wife Champika Shiromini, 36, their four-year-old daughter Ranuriya, his sister-in-law Chathurya Subhashini, 19 and aunt Lalani, 44. The fifth victim was a neighbour, identified as retired businessman Dayananda Perera, 66. All were residents of Dutugemunu Mawatha, Thalangama.
Neighbours said last night that the victims had joined a group from Dutugemunu Mawatha on a trip to Wilpattu National park, but the boat ride was not included in their original plan. “It was a suddenly organised trip. There was no proper planning. Several families in the area got together and left on Friday. They were to return today,” one resident said.
Puttalam city Corner Nandana Wimalaratna visited the Mullipuram Navy camp where the bodies were initially brought for an inquiry. He was told that the ill-fated boat was overloaded. When the tragedy occurred, the boat which was meant for eight people had 18 — 13 people who had come on the trip, four sailors and the boatman.
The condition of one of the rescued was serious and he was being treated at the Puttalam hospital. Navy spokesperson Kosala Warnakulasooriya said the picnic boat had travelled towards the Mannar coast from Wanathawilluwa in the Puttalam District earlier in the day.
He said that in the second boat tragedy, the fate of three fishermen was not known. Both tragedies took place in choppy seas caused by strong gusts of winds blowing inland from the Indian Ocean, he said. The spokesman said the Navy had launched a search-and-rescue operation for the three missing fishermen but there were fears that the victims may have been drawn into deeper waters by the currents.
The rescued fisherman, Marcandu Lawrence, 38, who is being treated at the Mannar Hospital told the Sunday Times their craft had overturned due to the rough conditions and among the missing was his son. Earlier in the day, the Disaster Management Centre (DMC) and the Department of Meteorology warned of rough sea conditions owing to strong winds and sea goers were advised accordingly.
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