Bhatkal: Coast Guard Station Karwar organized its first ever Bravery Award Ceremony in appreciation of the heroic act and contribution towards saving of seven fishermen at Bhatkal fishing harbour, on Monday, August 21.
The award was given away to four fishermen named to the four fishermen of fishing boat Matsya Deep-Gopal Mager (Age- 45), Suresh Basava Kharvi (Age-40), Navin Masti Kharvi (Age-26) and Srinivas Narayan Kharvi (Age-49). They were given cash award of Rs 10,000.
The four were honoured by the Indian Coast Guard Karwar in recognition to the valiant and brotherhood act shown by the four fellow fishermen while saving seven precious lives of the ill-fated boat Guru Anugraha at sea.
It may be recalled that on August 3, 2016, ill-fated fishing boat Guru Anugraha capsized owing to rough sea conditions. While seven fishermen on board were saved one fisherman named Manjunath went missing.
On receipt of the information, Coast Guard had launched SAR mission for search of missing fisherman. Coast Guard had immediately sailed two ships for SAR mission despite extreme sea conditions and undertook numerous air sorties by Coast Guard Helicopter, which aided in surveillance through Air. The ships carried out extensive search in the probable area off Bhatkal to trace the missing fisherman. Finally, body of the fisherman was washed ashore due to sea conditions and was found near Maravante beach, 10 km off Kundapur.
Indian Coast Guard had arranged this award ceremony to boost up the morale and felicitate the gallant act of the fishermen that rescued others in need and also, Coast Guard has been successful in setting up example for other fishermen to be conscious of their obligation and encourage them to adhere to safety measures and carry life saving equipment whenever they venture out to sea.
The event was organised under the directives and guidance of Coast Guard Karnataka Headquarters, New Mangalore. Mankal Vaidya, MLA Bhatkal, Officials of ASP Bhatkal (staff), CSP Bhatkal and President of fishing community, Vinod Kharvi graced the occasion. Hundreds of Fishermen attended the event and made it a grand success accomplishing the motive behind the organizing the entire felicitation.
