Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Apr 17: Personnel of the Indian Navy honoured the fishermen from Malpe, who saved lives of their staff off the Goa coast some days ago, at the office of the Malpe Fishermens' Association on Wednesday April 15.

One of the helicopters of the Navy had developed technical problems near Vasco da Gama in Goa on March 25. The copter had then burst into flames and the three pilots in it had suffered serious injuries and fell into the sea and were  drowning, when the fishermen belonging to three Malpe-based boats, Harshachetan, Hanumajyoti and Rajkiran, which were engaged in fishing a little distance away, came to their rescue. Three fishermen, Ashok Kunder, Ramesh Kunder and Anand Bhatkal risked their lives to save the navy men, who were then carried to the land and admitted into hospital.

Navy commander Shekhar and Navy civilian Deepak T Hosmane came to Malpe port on Wednesday and thanked the fishermen for their presence of mind and timely action in saving the lives of the navy personnel and presented the brave fishermen with gifts.

Malpe Fishermens' Association Hiriyanna T Kidiyoor, joint secretary Vasudev Salian, Deep Sea Fishermens' Association president Sudhakar Kotian, Bhaskar Suvarna, Vasant Kanchan and several others were present.