17 Indians among 57 dead as Bahrain tourist ship sinks

Dubai, Mar 31 (UNI) Eighteen Indians were among the 57 people who drowned when a cruise ship capsized off the Bahraini coast, the Interior Ministry announced today.

According to officials, 67 people had been rescued and 13 were still missing from the small ship after the incident last night.

Among the survivors, 27 were injured and are being given medical treatment.

The Indian government in New Delhi quoting information obtained from the Bahraini Coast Guard and the Government Hospital (Salmaniya Medical Complex), said a total of 57 passengers had been confirmed dead. Of the 47 identified, 18 are of Indian nationality.

The names of the Indians are: Sikhil Babu, Abdul Latif Abdul Wahab, Saravana Kumar Murugesan, Nag Bhushan Pilla, Mrs Nag Bhushan Pilla, Chennalappan Thirugnnan, Santosh Chakra Puthenpurq, Kuthyil Mohd. Majeed, Saur Suhas Thorar, Mathukumar Murugan, Arby Mathews, Basant Kumar, Clarence William, Sayeed Farooq Syed Ahmed, Siru Arby, Uday Raj, Alok Kumar Verma and Hassnein.

A spokesman of the Indian External Affairs Ministry said 67 passengers had been rescued. Of these 36 were admitted to the Government hospital of which 17 were Indians.

Fourteen Indians were discharged after first aid. Two had been admitted to the hospital and one is in the ICU.

Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain, conveyed his deep condolences to the Indian Ambassador on the death of the Indians.

He reiterated his high regard for the Indian community and their contribution to Bahrain's development.

The Indian Embassy in Bahrain has kept the following lines open for the Indian public seeking further information: These are : Mr. H.R. Mohey, Counsellor, Mobile: 00973-39280216 Mr. R. Raghunathan, Second Secretary, Mobile: 00973-39745640 The telephone numbers of Salmaniya Medical Complex and the Bahraini Coast Guard are: Salmaniya Medical Complex, Tel: 00973-17-2555555 Capt Hamad, Mobile: 00973-39413413 Major Abdul Rahman, Tel: 00973-17-718888 MORE UNI RB SB PC1846

''The ferry was overloaded and its Indian captain, (who is yet to be named,) had initially refused to put it to sea,'' its owner Isa Al Qobaisi said. News report said the Coast Guard, Bahrain Royal Navy, Bahrain Royal Air Force and US Navy were still looking for more survivors.

The trip was organised by Nass, Murray and Roberts to celebrate the completion of the concrete structure of the Bahrain World Trade in Manama.

The Coast Guard was first alerted about the tragedy at around 0945 hrs local time, when it received a call from the mobile phone of one of the passengers, an Interior Ministry spokesman said. A patrol arrived at the scene five minutes later.

All the people who died, except one, were below deck when the 10-year-old ferry, used by tourists, flipped.

The passengers did not even have time to reach for life jackets, survivors said.

An Indian barman, still shaken a few hours after being pulled out to safety, said the boat ''rocked badly and tilted over'' after hitting a wave.

An Indian, aged 26, who would not be named, said she was looking for her friend Samir Thorat, a 32-year-old Indian architect for Atkins.

UNI