In a tragic accident, a boat ferrying devotees to the mainland from an island temple capsized off the Karwar coast resulting in the death of at least eight persons, including a one-year-old boy on Monday.
The incident took place at around 2.15 p.m. when the devotees were returning in the boat ‘Sri Rameshwar Parasanna’ after participating in ‘Koormagad Narasmiha Jatre’ held annually at Koormagad island around 1 nautical mile from Karwar.
According to sources, the boat in which Roopali Naik, Karwar MLA was travelling, was the first to rush to help the victims as it was just a few metres away from the capsized boat. Those in the boat managed rescue six persons and subsequently local fisherman, personnel of the Coastal Security Police (CSP) of Karwar and the Indian Coast Guard rescued a few more persons. In all, 18 persons were rescued. Seven perons are reportedly missing and search operations are likely to continue.
Five of the rescued are being treated in the Intensive Care Unit of the district hospital in Karwar, and they are said to be out of danger.
The deceased have been identified as Jayashree Kotharkar, 55, and Ganapathi Kotharkar, 60, of Kadwad; Nilesh Pednekar, 50, of Ramanaguli; Annakka Ingaldal, 60, of KHB Colony, Karwar (all from Uttar Kannada district); Bharathi Parashuram, Manjavva Somappa, and Arun Somappa, 1, from Shiggavi in Haveri district; and Geeta Janmejay Talekar of Ponda, Goa.
Senior officials of the district administration including Deputy Commissioner S.S. Nakul and Superintendent of Police Vinayak Patil immediately rushed to the district hospital in Karwar to meet the survivors are being treated. After Ms. Roopali Naik, district in-charge Minister R.V. Deshpande also visited the hospital and consoled the family members of the victims and enquired about the health of the survivors.
Compensation
District in-charge Minister R.V. Deshpande, who visited the hospital, announced compensation of ₹2 lakh to the families of the dead and said an inquiry would be conducted. He also announced that the education of the Ganesh, 9, one of the survivors, would be looked after.
Coast guard
Mangaluru Correspondent reports:
According to S.S. Dasila, Commander, of Coast Guard, Karnataka, the coast guard diverted its patrolling ship Amartya for rescue operations in Karwar as well as its helicopter from Goa. The rescue work was carried out with the assistance of local fishermen, he added.
