Karnataka: 8 drown, 8 missing as boat capsizes off Karwar coast

Karwar: In a horrific incident, eight people drowned and about eight are missing after a boat capsized in the Arabian sea off Karwar town on Monday afternoon.

The boat was ferrying devotees returning after attending the one-day annual festival at Sri Narasimha Temple at Kurmagad island to Karwar.

The only mode of transport to the island is through boats. 

The ill-fated boat was carrying about 33 people when it capsized about 2 km off Karwar shore around 3 pm. The other boats rescued about 18 people and the bodies of eight victims were retrieved. A search is on for the  others.

District Incharge Minister R.V. Deshpande who rushed from Hubballi, spoke to those in hospital and also family members of those killed in the incident. He declared a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the kin of those who drowned and also assured to help in the education of nine year old Ganesh whose father is missing.  The body of his mother and brother have been found.

Mr Deshpande also asked the Deputy Commissioner to probe the reasons for the incident.

“The boat capsized near the confluence of Kali River and the sea. Karwar MLA Roopali Naik along with other leaders like Ganapathi Ulvekar and Dilip too were returning in another boat. They helped in the rescue of many who were in the boat,” Janashakthi Vedike president Madhav Nayak told Deccan Chronicle.

Mr Nayak said that as there was a huge crowd, not much attention was paid to the number of those boarding the boat and also to safety measures.

Officials said that as soon as the Navy was informed about the incident by the district administration around 4.45 pm, the Indian Navy immediately dispatched two Chetak Helicopters and two fast interceptor crafts to the area for search and rescue. 

Diving teams from Karwar Naval Base have also been deployed.