Mangaluru: Six fishermen were rescued safely after a deep-sea fishing boat sank near the Alivebagilu estuary off Ullal on the outskirts of the city on Saturday evening.
The boat, named ‘Ayan’, was returning to the shore after a fishing expedition when the mishap occurred. The vessel is owned by Ibrahim Khalil.
According to officials from the fisheries department, the bottom of the boat reportedly struck a rock near the estuary and developed a breach. Water then began rapidly entering the vessel, causing it to sink.
Nearby fishermen rush to rescue
The six fishermen on board found themselves in distress as the boat began taking in water. Fishermen in other boats nearby noticed the situation and immediately rushed to help.
The rescue was carried out with the assistance of nearby fishing boats, and all six crew members were safely brought out of the sinking vessel. They were subsequently taken safely to the shore.
The timely intervention of fellow fishermen helped avert a major tragedy.
Boat sinks while returning from fishing expedition
The incident occurred when ‘Ayan’ was making its return journey after completing a deep-sea fishing expedition. Fisheries department officials said the boat’s underside hit a rock, causing damage to its structure.
The impact reportedly broke the bottom portion of the boat, allowing water to gush inside within a short time. The vessel eventually sank near the Alivebagilu estuary.
While the boat was lost in the mishap, all six fishermen escaped without loss of life due to the swift rescue efforts of people in nearby boats.
The incident highlights the risks faced by fishermen while navigating coastal waters and estuaries, particularly in areas where underwater rocks and changing conditions can pose dangers to vessels.
The timely response from fellow fishermen ensured that all six crew members of the boat were rescued safely before the situation could turn fatal.