Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Nov 24: Four tourists spent a night at St Mary's Island in Malpe as they missed the last boat which ferries tourists to Malpe from Island. The incident happened on the night of Saturday November 23.
The tourists have been identified as Justin, Sheeja, Josh and Harish from Kochi, Kerala. They had come to visit St Mary's Island in the afternoon of November 23. They spent the day in the island and reached another nearby island which was out of anyone's eye sight.
Justin and Sheeja are running a small hotel in Kochi and Josh is working in that hotel. Harish is goal keeper of Kochi football academy’s under-17 team.
The last boat ferries tourists back to Malpe had left the island at 6.45 pm. Boat personnel's had checked the island before leaving and made sure that no one was left behind. But as these 4 tourists from Kerala had gone to a small island close to St Mary's Island, they were not spotted by them. As the water level had increased they were unable to come back to St Mary's Island. They spent the whole night there itself. When they arrived at the boat pick up point of St.Mary's Island in the morning of November 24, boat personnel spotted them and informed the police.
A formal enquiry was made and all the 4 tourists were allowed to go back to their native place.
There is a ban on overnight stay at St Mary's Island.