Hundreds pay tribute to Bahrain tragedy victims

Manama: Bahrain yesterday paid a poignant tribute to 58 people who died when their cruise boat capsized off the coast of Manama a year ago.

Hundreds of people attended two separate solemn anniversary ceremonies and flocked to the Christian cemetery in Manama where a memorial black granite stone bearing condolence messages and the names of the victims was erected.

At the Indian Club, the Indian community paid homage to the 21 Indians, including five women, who died when Al Dana pleasure boat sank during a party organised to celebrate the completion of contracting work on the Bahrain World Trade Centre.

A second remembrance meeting was held at the American Express Bahrain Rugby Football Club in Saar, a village 15 km west of Manama.

At the Christian cemetery, relatives, friends and officials remembered the victims amid flowers and tears as the memorial stone was unveiled.

The message, "In memory of those who lost their lives so tragically in Bahrain's dhow disaster - on March 30, 2006" was inscribed in gold writing at the top. Following the names of the 58 victims, the message at the end of the cenotaph read "The dreams we turn from paper into form forge our teams, our friendships, and we remember them."

Emotional scene

Victor Herman Pieris, the cemetery caretaker, told Gulf News that the memorial stone, erected two days before the first anniversary of the tragedy, would be an assembly point for "all those who lost loved ones and those who had deep compassion for the victims."

The Sri Lankan-born caretaker said that around 300 people visited the cemetery yesterday morning to mark the first anniversary of Bahrain's worst maritime disaster. "The British, Indian and US ambassadors laid wreaths near the stone and paid respect to the victims. It was a very emotional scene. Many Bahrainis also came to express sorrow and offer comfort," Pieris said.

Jamie Bowden, the British ambassador said that his wreath was "in memory of those who lost their lives in the sinking of the dhow Dana" while Balkrishna Shetty, the Indian envoy, said that his flowers were "in remembrance of those who lost precious lives in the Al Dana boat tragedy on 30 March 2006."

Al Dana, hired by local company Island Tours, was chartered to the construction company, Murray & Roberts for a party and capsized while it was attempting to sail back to the shore.

The dhow's Bahraini owner Abdullah Al Kubaisi and Indian captain Rajendrakumar Ramjibhai are being tried for manslaughter. The verdict is expected to be announced in May.