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MARGAO
Tragedy struck a group of fishermen at the mouth of River Sal at Betul when a fishing vessel capsized and disintegrated into pieces near the sand bar while returning back from fishing.
While four of the crew members, from Jharkhand and Chattisgarh, were rescued by the local fishermen as well as by the life guards and brought to the Mobor beach, the missing Tandel of the fishing vessel, Vassu, is feared drowned. Efforts to trace the missing crew member proved futile till late evening. The Coast Guard had pressed into service a rescue helicopter, which hovered over the sea, to trace the missing fishermen, but in vain.
Three other fishing vessels, including a purse seine vessel, sources said, had a close shave near the river mouth earlier in the morning, but returned to the Cutbona jetty with some minor damage.
The incident occurred on Thursday morning when the fishing vessel owned by Ganeshyam Jhattkar, Betul-Bapsora was returning back from fishing when the vessel reportedly hit the sand bar due to the rough conditions near the river mouth.
Local fishermen said the ill-fated vessel broke into two halves before capsizing into the water. The tandel who was holed up in the cabin is believed to have feared drowned in the incident. Two of the fishing crew swam towards the Mobor beach and were promptly attended by the lifeguards, while one was rescued by the lifeguard and the fourth crew member was rescued by a water sports operator on a jet ski.
The debris of the ill-fated fishing vessel was seen floating in the sea around noon. Parts of the debris were washed on the Mobor shore, indicating that the vessel has disintegrated into pieces.
Drishti said the lifeguard on duty at Mobor, Nitish Velip received a call from the Coast Guard explaining about the incident and requested for assistance.
“The lifeguard radioed the nearest tower in Cavelossim to launch the jet ski for rescue assistance. Meanwhile, lifeguard Nitish rushed into the waters with a rescue tube and assisted the victims who were signalling for help. The lifeguard swam towards the victims and secured one victim with the help of a rescue tube and brought him to shore safely. Simultaneously, a water sports jet ski arrived at the spot and secured the other victim and brought him to shore. Two other victims swam to shore safely,”
Drishti said. HOW IT HAPPENED
The incident occurred on Thursday morning when the fishing vessel owned by Ganeshyam Jhattkar, Betul-Bapsora was returning back from fishing when it reportedly hit the sand bar due to the rough conditions near the river mouth
The ill-fated vessel broke into two halves before capsizing into the water
Two of the fishing crew swam towards the Mobor beach and were promptly attended by the lifeguards, while one was rescued by the lifeguard and the fourth crew member was rescued by a water sports operator on a jet skiThe tandel who was holed up in the cabin is believed to have feared drowned in the incident
