MARGAO
Eleven crew members aboard a motorised country-made fishing canoe had a miraculous escape after their vessel capsized in the choppy Arabian Sea off the Majorda coast around noon on Sunday while returning from a fishing trip.
All 11 fishermen were rescued by Drishti lifeguards with assistance from local fishermen. One crew member, who experienced breathing difficulties after the incident, was shifted to a hospital by ambulance. The remaining crew members escaped unharmed.
Fortunately, most of the fishermen were wearing life jackets at the time of the mishap, which aided their rescue.
Although the canoe capsized off the Majorda coast, the vessel drifted towards Sunset Beach in neighbouring Betalbatim village.
According to preliminary information, the canoe was returning with its catch when one of its two motors stopped functioning due to a technical snag, leaving the vessel stranded in rough seas close to the shore. A large wave is believed to have struck the disabled canoe, overturning it and throwing the crew into the water.
Of the 11 crew members, eight are natives of Odisha, two are from Jharkhand, and one is from Andhra Pradesh.
Betul Coastal Police Station in-charge PI Navlesh Desai, who rushed to Betalbatim Beach along with his staff after receiving information about the incident, said all the fishermen were rescued promptly.
“We have received information that the canoe capsized after it was hit by a huge wave. All the fishermen were rescued. Only one crew member was shifted to the hospital after experiencing breathing difficulties. The vessel was returning from fishing,” Desai said.
The overturned canoe was later towed ashore by local fishermen with the help of a heavy earth-moving machine.
