Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Jul 4: The 'Manju Matha', a Malpe-registered gillnet fishing boat that had met with an accident after taking in water at sea, drifted ashore at Ucchila beach in Ermalu Bada village under the Hejamady Coastal Security Police (CSP) Station limits on Friday evening.
The boat had set out from Malpe fishing harbour into the Arabian Sea for fishing on the morning of June 29. During the afternoon, water began leaking into the boat through its bottom. As the situation went out of control, assistance was sought from the Indian Coast Guard. Coast Guard personnel rushed to the spot and safely rescued all six fishermen on board. However, as the vessel could not be salvaged, it was left adrift at sea after the rescue operation was completed.
Subsequently, at the New Mangalore Port Authority, officials from the CSP Station, the Fisheries Department, the Immigration Department, and the local police took custody of the fishermen and verified their documents. It was confirmed that four of the fishermen were natives of Tamil Nadu, while the remaining two were from Kerala.
As the boat was allegedly engaged in fishing in violation of the fishing ban imposed by the district administration, a report has been submitted to the Fisheries Department recommending appropriate legal action against the boat owner and the cancellation of the boat's licence and registration.
At around 6.15 pm on Friday, the boat drifted ashore at Ucchila beach. On receiving information, head constable Abdul Razak, CPC Praveen, KND Rajesh, and Theertha of the Hejamady CSP station, with the assistance of local fishermen and members of the public, safely pulled the boat onto the shore.