Udupi: The spate of fishing boat mishaps along the coastal region of Karnataka continues unabated. After incidents in Bhatkal and Upunda, yet another fishing boat capsized near Kapu Lighthouse in Udupi district on Monday morning.
According to sources, the boat was caught in high tidal waves and overturned in the sea. Fortunately, all seven fishermen onboard were rescued in time without any casualties.
The incident occurred when a trawler had set out for fishing from Malpe port and ventured into the Arabian Sea. Soon after the boat capsized, nearby fishermen on other boats rushed to the spot and successfully carried out a rescue operation, pulling all seven fishermen safely out of the water.
It is worth recalling that a similar incident occurred on Sunday in Upunda, Byndoor taluk, where a boat capsized. However, all nine fishermen onboard survived thanks to wearing life jackets. In contrast, a tragic incident took place last Wednesday near Tenginagundi port in Bhatkal, where four fishermen drowned after their boat overturned. Two bodies have since been recovered, while the search continues for the remaining two missing fishermen.
This monsoon season has seen a concerning rise in boat capsizing incidents across coastal Karnataka, sparking growing concern among the fishing community. Experts and authorities are urging fishermen not to venture into the sea without wearing life jackets. Meanwhile, social media users are calling for the deployment of modern technologies such as remote-controlled water rescue robots along the coast, which could provide timely assistance in emergency situations.