Karnataka: 16 Dead as Boat Capsizes Off Karwar Coast; Search Operation Underway
The incident comes barely a week after an overloaded boat capsized in the Narmada river in North Maharashtra's Nandurbar district, leading to 7 deaths.
Karwar, January 21: At least 16 persons have been confirmed dead as a boat capsized off the coast in Karwar district of Karnataka on Monday. A total of 24 persons were travelling on the ill-fated boat, which was returning from a remote island in Karwar frequented by locals to worship at a temple over there.
The Indian Navy, along with the Coast Guard, has launched a search operation to locate the other missing persons. The chances of their survival are bleak. The authorities, however, are leaving no stone unturned to retrieve their bodies. Nandurbar: Six on Way to Perform Makar Sankranti Puja Die Enroute as Boat Capsizes in Narmada River.
The Navy issued a statement confirming the recovery of 16 bodies, adding that the "air and surface assets" been deployed to locate the remainder of people on the boat.
The Dornier Aircraft has also been launched from Goa to locate the victim, as they fear that the bodies could have drifted further into the sea.
Karwar MLA and BJP leader Rupali Nayak expressed grief over the demise of people, claiming that she witnessed the accident first-hand. The legislator was travelling in another boat adjacent to the one which capsized. Immediately after spotting the adjacent boat plunging, Nayak claimed to have reached the spot and saved at least two persons.
The incident comes barely a week after an overloaded boat capsized in the Narmada river in North Maharashtra's Nandurbar district. A total of 7 persons were killed in the accident, including three minors.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 21, 2019 06:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).