Karnataka: The Coast Guard Karnataka team rescued 7 fishermen and put off the fire in the boat they were in near Karwar on Friday, November 5th. According to a press release, it was around 10 PM the MRSC New Mangalore received information about IFB Varda being caught in a fire. The Coastal Guard rescue vessel C 155 went to the spot and rescued the 7 fishermen to another fishing boat IFB Vajra. It took nearly 3 hours for the Coast Guard to put out the fire amid inclement weather. Then they provided assistance to IFB Vajra to tow the gutted boat to Karwar fishing harbour.
At 4 AM the ill-fated boat was handed over to Coastal Security Police, Karwar, for further investigation. The health conditions of all the7 fishermen were good, the release said. The fishing boat was at a distance of 10 nautical miles from Karwar lighthouse. On receipt of a message by MRSC New Mangalore from coastal security police, Malpe C-155 from Karwar was sailed immediately for search and rescue mission and for an assessment of the incident and evacuation of fishermen.
ICGS C-155 reached the spot and immediately swung into the action of dousing the fire after ascertaining all seven crew shifted to nearby fishing boat IFB Vajra. The operation to completely douse the fire was completed in about three hours. On assessing that there was no further possibility of fire outbreak, C-155 provided all assistance to IFB Vajra for towing the ill-fated fishing boat to Karwar fishing harbour. “All the fishermen are in a healthy state,” said DIG SB Venkatesh, commander, coast guard, Karnataka.