Udupi: Malpe Tragedy - Boat Recovered, Two Fishermen Still Missing
 
Pics: Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (PS)
 
Udupi, Aug 13: A fishing boat that capsized after an engine failure near Alivegody breakwater off the Malpe coast on Friday August 12, was found half-sunk and in a completely dilapidated state at Kaipunjalu shore near Kaup here on Saturday August 13.
 
Six fishermen left Malpe port for fishing on Friday at 2 am aboard the fishing boat ‘Thirumala’ belonging to Pushpa Salian. After they sailed for about 15 minutes heavy winds started blowing from the opposite direction. The boat rocked and the fishermen lost control over it, until finally it hit a boulder.

The impact was such that the boat developed cracks and the sea water gushed in, and despite the best efforts of the fishermen to save it, the boat began to sink.

All the fishermen jumped into the water, and while four of them swam to safety, two others, Mahadeva and Ramesh, are still missing and are feared drowned.

The other fishermen are Pandurang and Manjunath from Byndoor, Ramachandra and Damodar from Manki near Honnavar.

Pandurang and Manjunath reached the shore first and filed a report about the missing fishermen at the local police station. By Friday evening, Ramachandra and Damodar also reached the shore.
 
Until Saturday evening there was no clue of the missing fishermen. The Malpe police, local fishermen and swimming experts have been searching extensively but in vain.

The loss resulting from the tragedy is estimated at Rs 35 lac. A case has been registered in Malpe police station.