While the families of those who died in the Andamans boat tragedy have found a semblance of closure by receiving the bodies on Monday morning, one family is still at odds with the sea. Authorities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are yet to find the body of Suresh Sha of Kancheepuram.
Suresh Sha's brother Chandru is waiting in Port Blair, hoping for the body to wash ashore. "Locals tell me that the tide is high and the area is very windy. This will, hopefully, push the body to the coast," Chandru to TOI over the phone.
Local authorities and the ministry of shipping are searching for the body. "Five small boats and five ships have been patrolling the sea from Monday. Two helicopters have joined the search. Ministry officials have been giving me the hope that the body will be found by Wednesday morning," said Chandru.
On Monday night, Chandru saw what looked like a body floating near the shore. "As soon as I called the Andamans collector, helicopters rushed in," he said. Chandru's biggest fear is the crocodiles he spotted on the island. He is staying in the government quarters in Andamans.
Chandru was the first one in Kancheepuram to hear about the tragedy when his sister-in-law Gangabai called from the Andamans. She and her daughter Vinodhini were the only survivors among the six of his family members who went on a holiday there. Chandru lost his brother Suresh, his parents and niece in the accident.
Meanwhile in Kancheepuram, all the bodies have been cremated. "All the bodies have been handed over to the families. We provided assistance in the cremation," said Kancheepuram collectorate PRO Stanislaus. "We also distributed the compensation announced by the chief minister." He said the collectorate had bought large amounts of dried cow dung and firewood as they expected a number of cremations on the same day.
Survivors were welcomed back to Kancheepuram by hundreds of people on Monday. Of the 32 residents of Kancheepuram who left for the Andamans in a tour group, only 15 returned.
Wednesday 29 January 2014
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Search-for-body-of-last-victim-still-on/articleshow/29514481.cms
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