Six fishermen reported missing

Mangalore, May 29 : Six fishermen, who had ventured into the sea from Malpe in Udupi district have been reported missing, while about 400 fishing boats were stranded in the waters unable to reach the shores as the sea was rough due to incessant rain in the coastal areas of Karnataka.

Informing this to reporters here, Fisheries Minister B Nagaraj and Medical Education Minister V S Acharya said the six fishermen had gone in four boats yesterday. Their boats were found in the sea near the Malpe Fisheries Port early today.

They said the coast guard personnel from both Karwar and New Mangalore Port had been summoned to trace the missing fishermen and help stranded boats reach the shores. The Coast Guard in Mumbai would be sending its helicopter within an hour for assisting in the work.

Mr Shetty said as the sea was found rough in all other ports due to incessant rain in the coastal areas of the state, the Fisheries Department had asked authorities concerned to allow all stranded fishing boats in the sea to reach the shores through the New Mangalore Port.

To a query, the ministers said about 14 to 18 boats, which had left from Byndoor, might either be stranded in the sea or reached the shores through the New Mangalore Port. They could give a clear picture only after verifying with the authorities, they added.

UNI