Search operation for two missing people at Karwar coast intensifies

KARWAR: On Monday the Uttara Kannada district administration along with the other departments had intensified the search operation to find the two other people, who went missing after a boat had capsized off the Karwar coast. A total number of 14 out of the 35 passengers who were on board had gone missing after the incident.

On Wednesday the deputy commissioner, SS Nakul, Uttara Kannada, had said that 19 people have been rescued. Search is still continuing to locate Keerti Somappa Belavalakoppa, 7 and Sandeep Parasappa Belavalakoppa, 10, who are still missing. He also said that helicopters have been pressed into the service.

A total of 13 members of the Belavalakoppa family, who were hailing from the Haveri district had gone to the Jatra in Kurumgad island and seven family members had drowned and two are missing. On Tuesday, the Coastal Security Police, Navy and Coast Guard had recovered six bodies. They have been identified as Kiran, 4, Parashuram, 35, Shreyas Pawaskar, 28, Sanjeevini, 14, Soujanya, 12 and Geeta Hulaswar, 23.

The district administration has sent the detailed report to the government regarding the mishap and the district administration will be dealing sternly with people who were responsible for the incident. Police have recovered 24 life jackets from the capsized boat, as the driver and the owner of the boat had not instructed the passengers to wear them. The boat had the capacity to carry 28 persons, including the crew members, but on the fateful day, a total of 35 persons were on the boat said Nakul.

Nakul said that the incident is being investigated from.three perspectives. Only survivors would be able to give the coherent information but they are still under shock, he said. He also said that the boat owner had all the valid documents. Vinayak Patil, the Superintendent of Police has said that police have filed a case under the IPC 304 against boat owner Dayanand Jadhav and driver Ranganath Chopdekar. The case is still being investigated and the details cannot be given he said.