Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Aug 28: After a fishing boat which had to face turbulence at sea near the estuary between Hejamady and Sasihithlu on Sunday August 27, a fishermen died. The other seven in the boat reached the shore safely.

The fishing boat, 'Vithoba Rukumai' owned by Mohandas from Hejamady Kody met with accident in this incident. Tarun, who went missing after losing his battle with strong draught of the waves is feared to have drowned. Tarun was unmarried, it is gathered.

The fishermen were returning after catching fish when the boat began to rock violently. When the boat appeared like turning turtle, fishermen, Bharat, Priyank, and Tarun fell into the sea. Other fishermen jumped into action and saved Priyank and Bharat. It is said that Tarun could swim and save himself as the jacket he was wearing for protection from rain was filled with water.

Boat owner, Mohandas, along with fishermen, Priyank, Bharath, Praveen, Padmanabha, Tarun and Sukumar from Hejamady Kody, had left the shore at 7 am on Sunday for fishing. Seeing that the boat was facing grim prospect, Chandrakumar from Haleangady and life guards at the beach rushed to the rescue of fishermen and saved all remaining seven fishermen. Even though with the support of locals and others in the boat the team did its best to save Tarun, they could not do so because of the force of the waves.

The fishermen had truncated their fishing plan after sensing imminent danger. During the period the boat was jolted by strong waves, Priyank and Bharat fell into the sea and became very ill. They were treated at a private hospital at Mukka.

Beach development committee president, H Vasant Bernaud, Hejamady gram panchayat president, Vishalakshi Putran, Mulky block Congress president, Dananjay Mattu, Mulky special tahsildar, Kishore Kumar, and others visited the spot. It may be recalled that three had perished at this spot on June 25 and it is a known fact that water current near the estuary here poses grave challenges.