[2] The excursion group boarded on three boats from Bhoothathankettu area, twenty kilometers away from Kothamangalam.
The accident happened on 20 February 2007 at 6:30 pm local time at Ovunkal jetty in Periyar, one kilometer away from Thattekad bird sanctuary.
According to preliminary conclusions, the bottom of the boat in which the excursion group was traveling was shaken and the water entered the cause of the accident.
But the then DGP Raman Srivastava, who held a press conference the day after the incident, said that the accident happened because the boat overturned.
Pareed Pillay filed a report in which he proposed comprehensive legislation addressing inland transportation and made around 86 recommendations, including making swimming an extracurricular subject.