27 Fishermen Rescued as Purse Seine Boat Sinks Near Gangolli Estuary

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Kundapura : In a harrowing incident on Wednesday, a purse seine fishing boat capsized and sank in the estuary area near Gangolli port in Kundapura. Thanks to a swift joint operation by local fishermen and the Gangolli Coastal Security Police, all 27 fishermen on board were successfully rescued. However, the mishap resulted in financial losses estimated in crores of rupees as the boat and its fishing gear sank into the sea.

The boat, named Shree Balanjaneya and owned by Nagaraja Mogera from Bhatkal Mundalli, had set sail from Gangolli port on Wednesday afternoon. While engaged in fishing about 2 to 3 nautical miles from the harbor, a fiber section of the vessel broke, causing seawater to gush inside as strong waves battered the boat. Realizing the immediate peril, the crew quickly alerted fellow fishermen back at the port.

Demonstrating great humanity, local boat owners B. Shekhara Kundar Maravanthe and Ramanna Uppunda provided their vessels for the rescue effort. Local fishermen including Abhishek Kharvi Malyarabettu, Chandrashekhara Kharvi Uppunda, Sandesh S., and Ishwara Lokappa Tandel joined Coastal Security Police Inspector Ramesh K., Sub-Inspector Subrahmanya, and their team. Operating two boats, the team braved the rough sea to safely evacuate all 27 fishermen—comprising 16 locals and 11 workers from Odisha.

One fisherman sustained injuries during the ordeal and was admitted to a hospital for treatment, while the remaining crew members reached the shore safely. Due to high tide and partial submergence, the damaged boat could not be towed back to the harbor, resulting in the total loss of nets and onboard equipment. A case regarding the incident has been registered at the Gangolli Coastal Security Police Station.