CANACONA: With the recovery of five more bodies on Tuesday, the total deaths in Monday’s Karwar boat tragedy has mounted to 13; and at least six are believed to be still missing.
Sources at Sadashivgad police station in Karwar taluka said that there were at least 34 pilgrims onboard the Fibre Reinforced Plastic Boat which was manned by one helsman and three assistants when it capsized at the confluence of river Kali in Karwar on Monday.
One of the deceased is Geeta Janmejay Talekar (48), a resident of Prabhunagar, Ponda, an officer at Sadashivgad police station added.
Providing fresh details of the unfortunate incident, sources said that the ill-fated boat was carrying more than its carrying capacity of 24 passengers and four crew.
“The overloaded boat got tilted slightly when it was hit by a bigger wave, at which point all the terrified pilgrims rushed to the other side to balance the boat when it got flipped,” a survivor said giving account of how the accident happened.
A total of 19 pilgrims who had somehow clung on to the overturned boat were saved by other similar vessels in the vicinity which were later joined by Coast Guard, Marine Police and Navy.
They employed all the assets at their disposal to undertake rescue and search operation, and by late Monday evening authorities had released an update saying there were 34 pilgrims and four crew on board, when the boat capsized at about 3 pm on Monday.
A total of 19 passengers, who included men, women and children of various age groups were rescued on Monday itself. The search operation was later abandoned and was resumed on early Tuesday morning.
After a massive search from Polem till Ankola with the help of a marine police interceptor, drone and helicopter another five bodies were retrieved on Tuesday while at least six are still feared missing, sources said.
