Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, May 13: Blind race to ferry more and more tourists to North Bay Island today caused yet another boat mishap in Andamans. In today’s tourist boat accident, three tourists from New Delhi got injuries.
According to reports the accident took place at North Bay Island this afternoon, where a power dinghy Marine Rider dashed with another power boat of Barefoot group ‘manta ray’, which was about to start for Port Blair.
There were six tourists, including two children onboard ‘Marine Rider’, which reportedly toppled after hitting the other boat.
Three tourists, out of six, Manan Mehtani, Athithi Sharma and Naveen Mehtani sustained injuries.
The divers of Dive Mantra, Dive Master Dinesh Biswas, Divers of Barefoot Scuba and two lifeguards of Tourism Department immediately came to the rescue and brought all tourists to shore, where they were given first aid.
Three year old Manan Mehtani was immediately rushed to Port Blair’s G B Pant Hospital in serious conditions as sea water entered inside her lungs.
Her father Naveen Mehtani got minor injuries in forehead and hand while another tourist, Athithi Sharma sustained head injuries. Sea water also went inside the lungs of Athithi Sharma and she was kept under observation in ICU ward of G B Pant Hospital. On January 26, 2014 in a boat accident near North Bay Island, 22 tourists had died.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha one of the victim tourists said that the boat operator was driving the power boat with full speed and was showing unnecessary skills. “There was enough space on the beach but for reason unknown he went towards the other boat and hit the boat from one side,” he said.
Tour operator alleged that the boat operators usually try to ferry tourists as fast as possible so that more and more tourists could be ferried in one day, which means more profit for them.
