By Matters India Reporter
Kottayam: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan joined hundreds around India to mourn the death of two media persons who drowned while covering flood havoc in the southern Indian state.
“The death of two persons who died while gathering information about a disaster has deeply pained my heart,” Vijayan wrote in his condolence message.
Bipin Babu and K K Saji were in a five-member team from the Mathrubhumi, a Malayalam newspaper, that had gone to report rain havoc in Kottayam district. Their boat capsized on July 23 in Kariyar near Kallara, some 20 km north of Kottayam.
The local people rescued news reporter K B Sreedharan, cameraman Abhilash and ferryman Abhilash while the other two went missing.
The search team recovered Babu’s body on July 24 from around 300 meters away from the spot of the incident.
The 27-year-old has been worked as a driver at Mathrubhumi’s Thiruvalla unit for the past five years. His relatives have identified the body, which was taken to Kottayam Medical College for post mortem and other procedures.
The body of Saji was recovered July 24 morning. The funeral of the 47-year-old was conducted in the same evening at his native place in Kaduthuruthy.
The search was conducted by the navy department, fire force, and local men.
The media team was going to Mundar where heavy rains marooned hundreds of people. The tragedy occurred when the team was returning after the reporting.
The chief minister has promised all deserving help to the bereaved families. “Media persons are those who risk their lives to inform people about problems and difficulties in society,” Vijayan wrote in his Facebook page. “It was their dedication and commitment to their job that led to them to sacrifice their lives,” he added.