Daijiworld Media Network: Kundapur (SP)
Kundapur, Jul 21: Two of the three fishermen who had ventured into the sea at Gangolli near here for fishing in their gill net boats at about 7 am on Sunday July 20, drowned at about 8.30 am after their boat was hit by strong waves and got caught in the accumulated silt at the dock and overturned. One of the fishermen however, was rescued by fishermen from another boat. Bodies of the drowned fishermen are yet to be found.
Dasa Kharvi (40), Vaman Kharvi (45), residents of Belikeri in Gangolli and Manjunath Kharvi (38) residing near KFDC Ice Plant Gangolli, were fishing in the sea when giant-sized waves caused by heavy winds suddenly overturned their boats. Vaman Kharvi caught hold of some floating objects before being rescued by the fishermen from another boat. It is said that the other two clung to their capsized boats but were washed away owing to strong waves. As their bodies could not be recovered till dusk, it is believed that these two fishermen have not survived.
The boat was found at Kodi, about four kilometres away from the accident site and it has been since pulled ashore. Locals are still searching for the bodies of the missing fishermen. Dasa Kharvi is survived by wife while Manjunath Kharvi's wife and three small kids have been orphaned. Minister Krishna Palemar and Byndoor MLA K Lakshminarayan visited a private nursing home in Gangolli where Vaman Kharvi is being treated to enquire about his condition. They spoke to the nursing home doctors and asked them to provide the best possible treatment to the injured fishermen. The minister also visited the homes of the missing fishermen, consoled the grieving family members and informed them that the government would provide Rs 1 lac each to both the families from out of the natural calamity fund.
State fisheries minister Anand Asnotikar expressed shock at the incident and assured that the government would do whatever it can in the matter.
Sub-divisional officer K N Ramesh, tahsildar Shivappa Gowda, assistant director in the department of fisheries Umesh, DySP K Shashidhar, circle inspector Valentine D'Souza and others accompanied the minister during his visit.
Gangolli dock has been a witness to scores of accidents, primarily caused by the accumulated silt here since the last several years. Repeated demands and protests demanding drudging activities to be undertaken here since long have been ignored by successive governments.