Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Oct 7:  In an unexpected accident which took place off Kumta coast on the night of Wednesday October  5, a fishing boat from Malpe was gutted. A short circuit is said to have caused the fire. All seven fishers inside the boat stand rescued.

The deep sea fishing boat bearing the name, 'Akash' with fishers, Devidas, Krishna, Veerendra, Krishna R Mesta, Seetharam Kharvi, Jitendar and Guru went up in flames all of a sudden.  The fishers from a nearby fishing boat and personnel of Coastal Security Force rescued the fishers.

The boat in question owned by Jeevan Shetty had left Malpe port on September 29 with seven fishers on board. At about 2 5 km away from Kumta coast, battery cable short circuit was noticed in the engine room when fishing activity was in progress, and the fire spread soon. Although fishers poured water and tried to extinguish the fire, it spread quickly, consuming fish valued at around ten lac rupees, engine, net, fibre, diesel, etc. totally inflicting a loss of Rs 60 lac on the owner, it is reported. The boat completely drowned after that.

After personnel of nearby Seethali Mahalaxmi boat rescued fishers with the help of ropes, they contacted help desk of Coastal Security Force, whose personnel rushed there with speed boats and took the fishers to the coast. Coastal Security Force personnel from here went to Kumta on Thursday morning and brought the rescued fishers back.