Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation's (KTDC) floating restaurant 'Flotilla' collapsed into the backwaters five months after it was renovated at a cost of about Rs 75 lakh.
The renovated two-storeyed restaurant at the Veli Tourist Village was inaugurated on January 1.
Authorities have given a bizarre explanation that water could have entered the floating restaurant through a hole at the bottom.
The lower floor has been completely submerged. Though the fire force personnel tried to pump out the water, the effort went in vain.
The restaurant, where 74 people could dine at once, functioned till the COVID-19 lockdown was imposed in March.
The restaurant, which started functioning many years ago, was shut down several times. It was also renovated several times by spending huge amounts of money. The restaurant was damaged when the Cyclone Ockhi struck the state in 2017.
Even in its heyday, the restaurant failed to attract a large number of visitors. V S Sivakumar MLA, and councillor Mary Lily Rajas visited the site.
