Daijiworld Media Network - Calangute

Calangute, Aug 12: Nerul resident Umesh Dabholkar, 40, drowned in the sea off Sinquerim after falling from a fishing boat amid strong winds and rough sea conditions on Tuesday morning.

The incident occurred around 8 am near the lower Aguada Fort.

According to locals, the boat was very close to the shore when Dabholkar fell into the sea. He attempted to swim towards the shore on the other side of the lower fort but was swept away by the strong current.

“He tried to swim to the shore on the other side of the lower fort but was swept away because the current was too strong. He was a good swimmer,” locals said.

Lifeguards launched a search operation using jet-skis but were unable to locate him. The search was called off in the afternoon.

Dabholkar's body was later found washed ashore at Baga beach at around 3.30 pm.

The incident is the second such occurrence in the area in the past two weeks.

On July 31, another fishing boat from Nerul, carrying five crew members, capsized off Aguada Fort around 9 am due to strong winds.

While two crew members managed to swim to the shore at Sinquerim, the remaining three held on to the boat as it drifted towards Reis Magos. They were subsequently rescued by coastal police and local fishermen. No injuries were reported.

With the ban on mechanised fishing lifted on July 31, traditional fishermen are permitted to venture into the sea, subject to weather conditions.

Most fishermen choose to venture out during this period to catch prized solar prawns.