Daijiworld News Network - Udupi / Malpe (GA)

• Fishing boats caught in raging waves
• More than 50 fishing vessels devastated

Udupi, May 29 (6-45 pm): The first rains of the season which have already caused havoc throughout the coastal districts have resulted in loss of property and life in the last couple of days. However, the loss was limited since there were no reports of thunder and lightning or storm winds accompanying the rains.

But Monday May 29 proved otherwise to hundreds of families of fishing community as more than 300 boats (trawl, fishing and mechanized) which had gone for deep sea fishing about a week ago were reported either damaged or caught in the middle of the sea owing to rough weathers and raging waves.  More than 1,500 fishermen and other labourers are in these boats and they are yet to reach shore. 

Reports also said that already more than 50 boats have either been completely or partially damaged.  While some of the fishermen have managed to reach shore through other boats, 12 of them are right now missing.  The sources said that these fishermen have drowned after their boats sunk in the deep sea.

"Dhanalakshmi" boat owned by Narayan Kunder Baikady sunk in the sea while on its way back to the shore on Monday morning.  It was only a few nautical miles away from the shore when the tragedy took place.  There were 6 fishermen in the boat out of whom 3 have managed to reach shore. 

However Narayana's elder brother Jagannath Kunder Baikady, cousin Anand Baikady and one Chandra Bhatkal have drowned.  No details are known about them.  Three others, Ramesh Bhatkal, Devendra and Prashanth who have reached shore said to have sustained serious injuries and are now admitted to a private hospital here.

Another boat "Hitalakshmi" owned by Hariappa Kotian too has sunk at 18 nautical miles away from the Malpe shore.  Among the fishermen who were in this boat Shivanand Mogera, Timmappa Nagapaa Gonda and Shanker Nagappa Nayak have gone missing whereas 6 more fishermen who had gone fishing in "Srinidhi" boat owned by Kishor Kunder Malpe too have drowned after the boat sunk in the deep sea.

Apart from this several other boats too have sunk and few more have been anchored in the middle of the sea owing to technical snags.  Latest reports said that some boats have been heading towards Karwar shores for safety.

Hundreds of fisheries families are going to anxiety and fear as members of their families are on these boats.  It is a sad tale indeed as fishing activities were to come to a standstill for 60 days within the next 4-5 days.  But the early arrival of monsoon has caused havoc as it caught many unaware.