Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether a Malta Boat Tragedy Probe Mission has visited the spot of the tragedy and submitted a report to the Government and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of action, the Government has taken on the report;
(c) whether the probe mission has requested the Government to visit the Schengen countries to finish the remaining work; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]
(a) to (d) As a result of mid-sea collision between 2 ships in the Malta-Sicily Channel on 24-25 December, 1996, approximately 170 young Indians died. The total number of deaths was approximately 300. In November-December 1998, a 5-member team of Malta Boat Tragedy Probe Mission visited Greece, Malta and Switzerland on a fact finding mission and submitted a report. Though it was a private visit, the Indian Missions in these countries extended all possible assistance to the team in the accomplishment of its mission.
The team wrote to the Government expressing their desire to travel to Europe in October/November 2016 to finish the remaining work and update itself regarding the progress of the case. As has been done in the past, Government of India facilitated issuance of visas to the 5-member team. However, we have now been informed that due to sudden sickness of their Chairman, the visit of the team has been postponed.