M'lore: Drank Rain Water to Survive: Rescued Fishermen Narrate Ordeal
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Jul 29: Three local fishermen who were rescued on Thursday July 28 five days after they went missing, arrived at central railway station here on Friday July 29 by the 8.20 Parashuram Express, much to the delight of their loved ones, who, to say the least, were relieved.
Manohar, one of the rescued fishermen, said that they ventured into the sea at 2 pm on Saturday July 23. At 4 pm on the same day the engine of their boat stopped working, and by 12 am, once they crossed the Kerala border, their communication with the outside world also cut off.
It was only on Thursday at 5 pm after their rescue that they could make a call.
Another fisherman, Francis Frank, said that they were not sure of ever returning to the shore as they did not come across any other boat and had drifted off way out of the normal route. But they finally sighted one boat 'Misiya' belonging to Mutthu, a fisherman of Kozhikode, and waved their clothes as a signal. The boat, carrying six people, move towards them and brought them to safety.
Asked on how they managed to survive the ordeal, Vincy, speaking to Daijiworld, said that they drank rain water and caught fish. They had a matchbox and clothes and some kerosene. They lit fire and cooked the fish using their lunch box as a heating utensil. With all that rain and the cold weather, they did not have a single jacket.
Manohar’s wife Hemavathi said that she did not have any communication with him as she did not have a mobile phone, but through Lavina, sister of Francis Frank she got to know about their miraculous survival. Manohar has a son, Robin, studying in the fifth standard, and a daughter Ankita in the second standard. Vincy and Francis Frank are bachelors.
Speaking to media persons Lavina said that though Laxman Maindan, owner of the Jai Panduranga boat was informed about the incident, he did not take any initiative to send any rescue team, and said he would send a boat only the next day. She also said that the coast guard too could not trace them even after a complaint was registered on July 26 in Panambur police station.
As soon as these fishermen arrived at the railway station, they looked fatigued, shivering and hardly able to talk. Locals gathered in large numbers to welcome them and a few youngsters went on to hug them and provide them hot coffee and cold drinks.