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Coast Guard intensifies search for boat

Last Updated 26 December 2018, 18:31 IST

The boat that left for deep sea fishing from Malpe is still not traceable. The Coast Guard has intensified search operation.

The boat, ‘Suvarna Thribhuja’, had left for fishing on December 13 and has remained incommunicado from the midnight of December 15.

The Coast Guard in Mangaluru and Goa are carrying out the search operations. The mobilephones of all the seven fishermen are switched off.

Coast Guard Commander S S Dasila said that extensive search operation is being carried out.

Advisories have also been issued to merchant vessels and fishing boats operating in the mid sea to keep vigil on the missing boat.

Coast Guard Dornier, one interceptor boat from Karwar, one fast patrol vessel from Goa and another fast patrol vessel near Kavaratti in Lakshadweep have been pressed into service to carry out search operation.

Further, the fisheries departments from Karnataka, Kerala, Goa, and Maharashtra are also extending the support, Commander added.

Meanwhile, in a press meet on Wednesday, Udupi Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis said that Coast Guard was able to track a mobile signal, which got stuck at a village bordering Maharashtra and further communication was not available as the mobile was switched off. Help from BSNL in Maharashtra has been sought, she added.

She added that six boats to together had gone for deep sea fishing on December 13 at 11 pm.

The five fishing boats had returned on December 16. The fishermen were waiting for the another fishing boat to return at least by December 18, but in vain. When all their attempt went futile, they registered police compliant on December 22. There were two fishermen each from Malpe, Kumta and Bhatkal and one from Manki in Uttar Kannada.

Francis said that a delegation of fishermen had met her and suspected the possibility of hijack of the boat. Search operation is on and all possibilities are being looked into.

Deputy commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis said President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to Udupi, on Thursday, was purely personal.

He will arrive in Udupi helipad at 11:35 am and will proceed to Pejawar mutt at 12 noon.

Later, the President will visit Sri Krishna temple to offer prayers and will depart at 1:05 pm. No public programme will be held on the occasion, she added.

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(Published 26 December 2018, 18:15 IST)

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