Udupi: The recent Gangolli boat tragedy, which claimed the lives of three fishermen, left the coastal community grieving. While the state government showed a humane gesture by offering ₹10 lakh in compensation to the families of the deceased, a key question remains unanswered — what about the survivor who is battling pain and poverty?
Fisherman Santosh, the sole survivor of the capsized gillnet boat Sri Hakremath Yaksheshwari, swam ashore with a severely injured leg after the boat overturned in rough seas on July 15. His fellow fishermen — Jagannath Kharvi, Lohit Kharvi, and Suresh Kharvi — tragically lost their lives.
While condolences and financial aid were extended to the bereaved families, Santosh has reportedly been left unacknowledged and unsupported. Neither government officials nor Fisheries Minister Mankal Vaidya have visited him or offered any form of assistance, despite his grave condition and financial hardship.
Santosh, who hails from a poor background, is undergoing treatment at a government hospital as he cannot afford private medical care. His family, still grieving the loss of his elder brother Satish in a previous fishing accident, now struggles to support his recovery.
Questions are now being raised over the apparent double standard in government response. Shouldn’t the life of a surviving fisherman — one who fought death and lived to tell the tale — also be valued?
The community asks: When will Santosh receive justice? Will the Fisheries Minister step forward and offer the support he desperately needs?