Tanur boat accident: Probe panel submits report with 141 recommendations
Justice VK Mohanan, accompanied by technical experts S Suresh Kumar and KP Narayanan, handed over the 14-volume final report to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan
The inquiry commission that probed the 2023 Tanur boat accident in Malappuram district, Kerala, has completed its proceedings and submitted its final report, which includes 141 safety recommendations, to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
The Justice VK Mohanan Commission of Inquiry was constituted to probe the boat accident.
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According to a press release issued by the commission’s office on Saturday (May 2), Justice VK Mohanan, accompanied by technical experts S Suresh Kumar and KP Narayanan, handed over the 14-volume final report to the chief minister at his office on April 30.
Two-phase inquiry
The commission was constituted to investigate the May 7, 2023, boat accident at the Poorappuzha estuary in Tanur, which claimed 22 lives. The boat 'Atlantic' was overcrowded with the boat employees waiting till late evening for the boat to be filled beyond capacity.
The inquiry was conducted in two phases based on its terms of reference, the statement said.
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The first phase report, submitted on December 4, 2025, examined the immediate circumstances of the accident and identified the individuals and institutions responsible. As part of this phase, the commission held sittings in Tirur over 18 months, examining 51 witnesses and 91 documents.
21 public consultation sessions
The second and final phase, submitted on April 30, 2026, dealt with systemic issues, including the adequacy of existing licensing and enforcement mechanisms, future safety measures, and a review of actions taken after previous boat accidents in the state.
For the final phase, the commission held 21 public consultation sessions across all 14 districts and recorded statements from 821 persons, including officials and members of the public.
141 recommendations
It also visited tourist and passenger boat jetties and sites of previous major boat accidents, and obtained expert opinions and departmental inputs using powers under the Commissions of Inquiry Act.
The final report contains 141 recommendations aimed at overhauling water transport safety and licensing protocols to prevent the recurrence of such disasters, the statement added.
The accident occurred when a tourist vessel carrying passengers capsized, killing 22 people, including 15 children, five women, and two men.
Investigations later found that the boat had been operating at night in violation of norms and that structural deficiencies in the vessel had contributed to the accident.
(With agency inputs)