Overview
- Michael Boulos arrived in Kochi for a private visit and was accompanied by US Ambassador Sergio Gor, the US Embassy said he was traveling in a personal capacity.
- Boulos made an unannounced trip to Alappuzha and took a houseboat ride that attracted local crowds when he appeared on deck and waved to onlookers.
- Kerala Police mounted elaborate security and arranged an alternate route to reach Punamada Lake after heavy rains flooded the main entrance.
- The Chief Minister’s Office denied reports that Chief Minister V D Satheesan met Boulos and clarified that the CM met the US ambassador in an official meeting.
- Coverage varies across outlets with some agency dispatches noting state-guest language while official statements stress the visit’s private nature and its timing ahead of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.