Mangaluru: Four fishermen on a fishing expedition went missing after their boat hit the breakwater of Koderi fishing jetty in Udupi district on Sunday.
Coastal security police sources said there were 11 fishermen in the boat when the accident occurred. While four are missing, the remaining people managed to reach the shore. The boat lost control in gusty winds and high waves. The missing people have been identified as Shekara, Naga, Laxman and Manjunath.
The fishermen had gone to sea from Uppunda near Byndoor. According to police sources, four fishermen were still missing while five among the seven rescued were discharged from hospital after administering first aid. Two of them did not require any medical attention.
Search and rescue operations are on for the missing people.
Meanwhile, the fishermen leaders lamented that it was not the first time such an accident is happening in that place. The fishermen have pointed out that the breakwater length should be longer to avoid such mishaps.
Byndoor MLA B M Sukumar Shetty who visited the spot said, "The fishermen are saying that it is the fourth time such accidents happening here."
"The local fisherfolk believe that the breakwater should be 300 meters longer than the present length. We will take it up with the Chief Minister and state government to resolve this issue. I wish the missing fishermen are found soon", he said. Shetty was accompanied by former MLA Gopala Poojary.
The coastal security police have launched a rescue and a search operation with the help of locals. According to the Indian Meteorological Department, fishermen were warned not to venture into the sea earlier.
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