Hussain Sagar: 30 tourists stranded due to heavy rain, operators negligence blamed
According to reports, the boat swayed violently towards the Boat Club's building due to the strong winds
By Newsmeter Network Published on 26 April 2023 9:20 AM GMT
Hyderabad: A group of around 30 seasonal tourists had a terrifying experience on Tuesday evening as their boat, Bhagmati, was pushed towards the Boat Club Building in Hussainsagar by strong gusts of wind and thunderstorms.
A police official from Saifabad reported that the boat was towed to safety after its engine failed due to the heavy rain.
However, officials from the Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation (TSTDC) have denied the allegation of engine failure. According to the officials, Captain turned off the engine as the boat approached the spot. But unfortunately, due to sudden heavy storms, the boat lost its control and was pushed away towards Boat Club Building, which was adjacent to the boat stand.
"If the engine failed the boat would have gone towards Buddha Statue due to winds and not towards Boat Club." said an official.
According to reports, the boat swayed violently towards the Boat Club's building due to the strong winds. Despite brushing against the structure's deck, the boat stabilised with the tyres outside, serving as a cushion, causing relief from all sides.
A video of the incident, taken by a bystander, went viral on social media, revealing that none of the tourists on board appeared to be wearing life jackets, which are mandatory for anyone boarding a boat on the lake.
In response, TSTDC official said, "There were life jackets available on the Bhagmati boat, but none of the tourists were wearing them during the incident. It is a common practice among tourists to wear life jackets only on small boats and not on bigger ones."
Negligence of boat operators
Sources said that it was negligence on the part of the boat operators who permitted the boat to embark despite the rough weather conditions and warnings of heavy rains, thunderstorms, gusty winds, and hailstorms.
The captain of the boat immediately alerted rescuers on land, as speedboats rushed to the scene with rescuers. They utilised ropes to keep the boat steady, which led to a successful rescue effort. A team from the tourism department deboarded the tourists, and a mishap was avoided due to the timely actions of the rescuers.
