Eight people have died in a mishap in Karnataka after a boat carrying 26 people capsized off the Karwar coast.Local fishermen and the Coast Guard have found eight bodies till now. One person is reported missing. Six of the eight victims have been identified by the investigating officials.
“Of the 26 persons reported to be on the boat, 17 people have been rescued by other civil boats operating in area. Eight bodies have been recovered by the naval and Coast Guard assets deployed in the area. Search is on for the one person still missing. Dornier aircraft launched from Goa for search and operation,” the Navy said in a statement.
The people had gone to a temple situated at a distant island in Karwar district. When returning, their boat capsized.
Rupali Nayak, the Karwar-Ankola MLA from the district, was on the other boat during the time. She is an eye-witness to the accident. She said she and her team immediately rushed to help the people and pulled two out of the water.
Later, the Navy was called for the rescue operation, which is underway. Chetak Helicopter CH 495 went airborne from Goa at 5.05 pm while divers with equipment also arrived at the scene of the incident to help with the rescue operation.
