Date:18/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/18/stories/2008011855340100.htm

Tamil Nadu

Seven amusement park employees held

Staff Reporter

An 11-year-girl drowned after boat collision
Probe reveals motor boats lacked stability

CHENNAI: Seven employees, including the deputy general manager, of Queensland Amusement Park were arrested on Thursday in connection with the death of an 11-year-old girl, who drowned after two motor boats collided at the park on Wednesday.

Investigations show that the park authorities had not taken adequate precautions, particularly with regard to the stability of the motor boats. The carelessness on the part of rescue team had led to the death of the girl, Inspector of Police (Nazarethpet station) R. Riyazuddin said.

The names of those arrested were given as Shiban Bhan (deputy general manager), Manikandan (maintenance engineer), Somasundaram (safety and operations manager), boat operators Jagannathan and Munusamy and life guards Anand and Selvam.

After registering a case, the police produced the accused before a court in Ponneri, which remanded them to judicial custody. Following the death of Anusha, her father lodged a complaint based on which the police registered a case under IPC Section 304 A (death caused due to negligence).

Joint Commissioner of Police (Central) P. Balasubramanian said that on January 3, the police had issued notices to the amusement park to ensure that all safety aspects were taken as per licence conditions.

Anusha, along with her family members, had gone for a ride by a motor boat, which collided with another boat. Ten persons, mostly women, fell into the lake. While others were rescued, Anusha could not be saved. She was declared brought dead in a nearby hospital. The body was sent for post-mortem to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.