Byndoor: Five fishermen had a miraculous escape after their fishing boat capsized in rough seas off the Shirur coast near Byndoor on Monday. The fishermen were rescued by another fisherman who noticed the mishap and rushed to their aid.
The rescued fishermen have been identified as Nagaraj Kharvi, Yogeesh Kharvi, Raju Kharvi, Manjunath Kharvi and Nagaraj Kharvi, all residents of Tarapati Alvekodi in Paduvari village.
Boat overturns in rough weather
According to reports, the fishermen were returning to Bhatkal after completing fishing operations at Malpe when a massive wave, triggered by strong winds and heavy rain, struck their boat near Koklerakallu off the Shirur coast. The impact caused the vessel to overturn in the turbulent sea.
Fortunately, all five fishermen were wearing life jackets, which helped them stay afloat until help arrived.
Fisherman rescues all five
Another fisherman, Shekhar Kharvi, who was fishing nearby, spotted the capsized boat and immediately navigated to the location. He successfully rescued all five fishermen from the sea before the situation could turn tragic.
The timely rescue prevented any loss of life despite the challenging weather conditions.
Loss estimated at over ₹7 lakh
Although the fishermen escaped unhurt, the boat was completely damaged in the incident. The mishap also resulted in the loss of the boat’s engine, GPS equipment, fish finder, five sets of fishing nets and ₹30,000 in cash, all of which were swept away by the sea.
The total financial loss has been estimated at over ₹7 lakh.
Officials from the Coastal Security Police visited the spot, conducted an inspection and registered a case. Authorities have urged fishermen to exercise caution while venturing into the sea during adverse weather conditions, as strong winds and rough seas continue to prevail along the Karnataka coast.