NMPT blamed for boat tragedy, no trace of missing fishermen yet

September 17, 2011

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Mangalore, September 17: The fishermen leaders have blamed New Mangalore Port Trust officials for Thursday's boat tragedy, which has left six men missing after their boat drowned off Mangalore coast.

They threatened of launching an intense protest if the NMPT failed to come to the rescue of fishermen when they are in distress.

Meanwhile, the six fishermen remained untraced on Friday despite the district administration pressing an aircraft to search for them.

The Coast Guard, Mangalore police and the distric administration continued their joint search operations which continued till late evening.

The Coast Guards have used a ship specially requisitioned from Kochi for the purpose. Besides a Dronier aircraft has also been pressed into service.

Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said the city police and the coastal security police personnel had been coordinating with the Coast Guard.

Meeting

An emergency meeting of the fishermen was held on Friday at the Matsyagandha auditorium in Bunder on Friday under the chairmanship of the president of Fisheries Development Corporation Nitin Kumar.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kumar said if the NMPT officials had let in the stricken boat after conducting an inspection, the tragedy could have been averted.

We have requested the NMPT to grant permission for allowing additional fishing boats to enter NMPT harbor until the old port in Bunder is completely expanded. Fishermen have also met chief minister Sadananda Gowda in Bangalore to request him to extend the 'jatti' in old Bunder. The CM has accepted our demand and has promised to lay the foundation stone for the expanded stage before Navarathri, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Umesh Karkera, the honorary president of purse-seine boat fishermen association, claimed that the district incharge minister was not paying attention to the problems faced by fishing community. “Fishermen are involved in a very challenging vocation. They venture into the sea without caring about their safety,” he said.

Three fishermen had died three years ago due to the irresponsible behavior of the NMPT authorities. Just a few days back five fishermen had sustained serious injuries when their boat hit the silt in Alive Bagilu. The NMPT authorities had not left the boat to enter their waters despite sending a distress message. How many more lives should be lost before NMPT changed its attitude, an agitated Karkera asked.

He also urged the NMPT to sanction Rs. 5 lakh each to the families of the five fishermen who have been missing since Thursday after the boat tragedy.

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News Network
November 15,2024

Udupi: The Tourism Department is planning a major eco-friendly development initiative for Kamini Island, located near the Blue Flag-certified Padubidri End Point beach, aiming to attract more visitors while maintaining environmental sustainability.

Assistant Director Kumar CU emphasized that, given the island’s proximity to the Blue Flag beach, all development efforts will center around eco-friendly practices. “We are looking to enhance the Kamini River and the island’s surroundings by adding a hanging bridge, nature trails, and eco-friendly food courts offering traditional cuisine. Visitors will also be able to reach the island by pedal boats or kayaking,” he said.

The development project is estimated to cost between Rs 3 crore and Rs 4 crore. Meanwhile, the Blue Flag beach, Padubidri, continues to see a steady flow of visitors. Vijay Shetty, manager of the beach, shared that tenders for food courts and water sports have been awarded to private parties. Recently, three new coracles have been introduced, which are proving to be a hit with visitors. Additionally, three more shelters are expected to be ready by November 20.

Shetty mentioned that the beach can now accommodate between 2,500 and 3,000 visitors daily, although footfall remains lower than other district beaches due to user fees and activity restrictions. “Initially, most visitors were from Mangaluru, but now nearly 40% come from other districts, showing a shift in the visitor demographics,” Shetty noted.

To further boost tourism and promote a healthy lifestyle, a Beach Carnival is set to take place on November 23-24, featuring the National Sea Swimming Championship and a sea marathon in collaboration with the Padubidri JCI, which is celebrating its golden jubilee. Cultural events will be held at the main beach, with some sports events taking place at the Blue Flag beach. Emphasis will be placed on making all activities environmentally friendly.

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News Network
November 17,2024

ullalpool.jpg

Mangaluru: A tragic incident unfolded on Sunday, November 17, at Vazco Resort (VAZCO), situated at Battappadi Cross Road in Someshwara on the outskirts of the city, when three young women drowned in the resort’s swimming pool. 

Disturbingly, an iPhone recording and CCTV footage captured their final moments, providing insights into the heartbreaking accident.

According to City Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal, the tragedy occurred at approximately 10:05 AM. The victims were identified as:

Keerthana N (21) from Devaraj Mohalla, Hebbal Second Stage, Vijayanagar Post.
Nishitha M.D (21) from 4th Cross, Kuribarahalli, Mysuru.
Parvathi S (20) from Ramanuja Road, K.R. Mohalla, Mysuru.

Sequence of Events

The three women had checked into Room No. 2 of the resort on the morning of November 16 and stayed overnight. On Sunday morning, around 10 AM, they entered the swimming pool to play. Reports suggest that they placed their clothes poolside and set an iPhone to record the activity.

Initial findings indicate one woman slipped underwater and began to struggle. When the second attempted a rescue, she too drowned, followed by the third woman. Within minutes, the tragedy claimed all three lives. CCTV footage from the resort corroborates the sequence, showing the young women struggling before succumbing to the water.

Investigation Underway

The resort staff discovered the lifeless bodies and immediately raised the alarm. Ullal Police Inspector H N Balakrishna and his team are conducting an investigation. Preliminary reports suggest the women were non-swimmers, and the lack of safety measures contributed to the tragedy.

The resort is owned by Manohar, as per police records. While the formal case is yet to be registered, the incident has raised serious questions about safety protocols at resorts offering pool facilities.

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News Network
November 27,2024

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Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada MP Captain Brijesh Chowta recently met with Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnav to discuss urgent concerns regarding the region's railway infrastructure development. Key issues raised during the meeting included the long-pending Mangaluru-Bengaluru connectivity, the Shiradi Ghat stretch, and other vital railway concerns impacting the region.

In addition to discussing these issues, Captain Chowta submitted a letter requesting the Union Minister's intervention and support. The letter emphasized the need to merge Konkan Railway with Indian Railways and called for the doubling of railway tracks between Bengaluru and Mangaluru, which would significantly improve rail connectivity between the state capital and Mangaluru.

Further, Captain Chowta raised concerns about enhancing passenger facilities along the region's rail routes, particularly the need for better services between Subrahmanya and Mangaluru.

To bring more attention to these pressing issues, Captain Chowta took to social media, urging the state government’s support. In a tweet on his official X handle, he requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to expedite the resolution of these concerns. “In this direction, I request our Karnataka government led by CM Shri @siddaramaiah to kindly provide the necessary state support for the swift redressal of various concerns pertaining to both Konkan Railways as well as HMRDC to ease movement of both people and cargo in this important stretch between Mangalore and Bangalore,” he posted.

The meeting with the Union Minister was attended by Bengaluru Rural MP Dr. CN Manjunath, Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Kota Srinivas Poojary, and Uttara Karnataka MP Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri, all of whom supported the discussion on enhancing railway infrastructure in the region.

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