New Delhi: The Navy on Wednesday said that "suitable disciplinary action" would be initiated against those found responsible for Tuesday's Wullar lake boat accident.
A teacher and 24 schoolchildren were drowned when a boat carrying them during a picnic capsized.
The Army, under whose command the Naval Commandos operate in the Wullar lake area, has also ordered a Court of Inquiry to investigate the incident.
A Naval spokesman said the army inquiry was statutory and would run parallel to the judicial inquiry ordered by the state government.
"Navy deeply regrets the accident", a Naval statement said making it clear that the force was committed to providing all assistance towards expeditious investigations.
Chief of Personnel at the Naval Headquarters, Vice Admiral N K Verma has flown to Srinagar to call on the Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad to offer condolences.
He will also hand over a cheque of Rs 20 lakh for disbursement to the bereaved families, the spokesman said.
The Naval statement said a detachment of the Naval Marine Commandos, called MARCOS is deployed at Wullar Lake, Asia's largest fresh water lake to assist the army in counter insurgency operations.
Naval officials said preliminary investigations indicated that a group of teachers and children from Primary school, Handwara, had approached the sailors on duty at the post and requested for a boat ride in an BAUT(Assault Boat).
Officials said the BAUT has the capacity to carry 16 fully equipped combat troops and two crew members.
"The school children along with their teachers embarked on the BAUT which capsized after covering a distance of 50 to 60 metres from the shore".
"The sailors in the boat were able to rescue one teacher and about 11 children but unfortunately the rest had drowned", the statement said.
Comments
0 comment