Enquiry into sinking of British liner "Dara'

This file relates to a formal investigation into the sinking of MV Dara, owned by the British India Steam Navigation Company Limited. More than 200 people died in the incident on 8-9 April 1961 near Dubai. It contains correspondence concerning:

• Court arrangements at the Chartered Auctioneers and Estate Agents Institute in Lincolns Inn Fields, London and problems connected with the bringing of witnesses from Kuwait, Dubai and elsewhere (1)
• Detailed progress report and summary of the investigation sent to the Indian Government and the question of informing outside parties (2)
• Outline of the investigation's arrangements and scope provided to the Pakistani Government (3)
• List of names, nationalities and addresses of witnesses to the Dara incident and arrangements for their attendance at court, including the purchase of warm overcoats. It includes a hand drawn map showing the location of the court and the Treasury's Solicitors (4)
• Witness expenses claim by American missionary Mrs Rose Nykerk, husband of Dr Gerald H Nykerk. Two US citizens lost their lives in the disaster (6)
• Description of the incident (10)
• Wish of one of the two Dubai witnesses Shri Nenumal Nebhandas Phulwani not to attend the investigation, for business and family reasons; and arrangements for the attendance of the other Dubai witness Bilal Fairooz. It includes discussion of the issue of financial compensation for witnesses' loss of earnings (11)
• Pakistan Government's wish that the MV Dara investigation makes no mention of the Pakistan Navy's inquiry into the explosion on board Dwarka off Muscat in December 1959. It includes a report on the attempted murder of Minister of the Interior of the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman Sayyed Ahmad Bin Ibrahim, who was on board Dwarka (15)