Ill-starred cruise

For Mehul Shah and his wife Natasha (née Banaji) a holiday cruise turned into a nightmare when their 14-month-old daughter Neuna drowned off Kadamat Island near Lakshadweep after a boat transporting passengers from the Super Star Libra liner to the island capsized, reported DNA of January 28, 2007. There were 10 persons on the boat, including the Shahs, when it turned over. The incident brought into focus the lack of safety measures provided by cruise liners.

The bereaved parents have filed a $ 10 million compensation suit against Star Cruises in a Malaysian court, revealed their lawyer Joy Thattil. The Kerala High Court has directed the port officer of the Lakshadweep administration to arrest and detain the vessel on arrival at any of the ports under its control and release it only after it furnishes a bank guarantee of Rs 10 lakh, Thattil informed DNA. The court order has also been forwarded to the Malaysian offices of Star Cruises.