Kerala, October 01: As the search operations were continuing at the accident spot at Thekkady, more bodies are being fished out by the rescue team. The toll has risen to 43 till the afternoon and the bodies are being moved to the Periyar Hospital here.
Shops and business establishments in this tourist town remained closed on Thursday to pay homage to the departed souls in the watery grave at Thekkady on Wednesday. Hotels were also closed and only medical shops are remaining open.
The boat tragedy has shocked the entire State.
The bodies of the victims from the neighbouring areas are being moved in ambulances attached with freezer after conducting a post-mortem. The certificates have been issued by the concerned departments at the primary health centre where the post-mortem was conducted. Ambulances carrying the bodies of victims from Tamil Nadu are preparing to cross the check post here in the afternoon. A pall of silence has covered the entire town even as bodies accompanied by relatives moved to different areas.
The local people are numb as Thekkady was witnessing a tragedy of such magnitude when the pleasure trip turned into a tragedy to the tourists from far away places.
—Agencies