Trawler from Malpe capsizes in Vasco

Mangaluru: With

deep depression

in the

Arabian Sea

intensifying into cyclonic storm Kyarr last night, a

trawler

that ventured into the sea for

fishing

from

Malpe port

in

Udupi

, capsized off the coast of Vasco in Goa, late on Thursday.

While the trawler ‘Sri Rama Raksha’ with fish catch worth thousands of rupees and large quantity of diesel intact sank, six fishermen on board were rescued by another trawler. Bhaskar Mendon, owner of the trawler, told TOI that the vessel had started sailing from Malpe port on October 15. “Yesterday night, due to heavy cyclonic winds, the engine of the trawler broke down when water gushed into the vessel. Following this, the trawler started sinking. Meanwhile, the fishermen on board made attempts to establish contact with the nearby fishing vessels using GPS-based wireless equipment. One of the trawlers in the vicinity received the message and rushed to the spot and rescued all the six fishermen on board,” Mendon said.

The fishermen, who were rescued are Chandrakanth Kharvi, Suresh Kharvi, Pandu R Kharvi, from Bhatkal and Rupesh, Laksheshwar Sai and Sonu from Odisha, he said, adding that all of them are safe.

Mendon said though the total loss has not been estimated yet, the cost of the vessel, catch and diesel may be around Rs 50 lakh. Local police in Vasco, costal security police and fisheries department have been informed about the incident, he added.