SC rejects Jagan's plea against HC order for CBI probe
Most passengers are camping in front of the Lakshadweep office as hotels and lodges are expensive, administration sources said. Yesterday, police had to be called to control the angry passengers, sources said.Two ships, M V Amini Divi and M V Minicoy, which had been undergoing maintenance work since May 15, would start operations tomorrow, sources here said. These two ships are small and each can carry 150 passengers only, administration sources said.The three passenger ships plying now are M V Bharat Seema, M V Arabian sea and M V Lakshadweep sea which can accommodate 383, 242 and 244 persons and cargo respectively.Another vessel, M V Kavaratti, which is the biggest passenger-cum-cargo vessel plying between Lakshadweep and Kochi, has developed some technical problem, and is undergoing repairs.'Dweep Sethu', which operates between Kozhikode and the islands, does not ply during the monsoon.The passengers, including women and students,had to wait in queue for four days to get tickets.Passengers have also sent a petition to the Administrator seeking steps to get M V Kavaratti repaired as early as possible.Among the stranded passengers are those who have come for medical check-up to the mainland. Lakshadweep mainly depends on Kerala for medical facilties.Most of the student community are studying in the colleges in various parts of the state. With Ramzan and Onam festival holidays round the corner, the students are worried if they would be able to manage tickets to reach Lakshadweep.Air India operates three weekly services to Lakshadweep which has also been hit after a flight skidded off the runway on August 19. The services are expected to resume from August 30, AI sources said. Kingfisher is also operating services to the union territory. [More]Tags:supreme courtrejectsjaganpleahigh courtordercbiprobe