ENS

Karwar, Sep 5: Iqbal of Kasargod near Honnavar is known as life saver.

Whenever a boat disaster takes place in the sea, he is remembered and his help is sought. He has saved many fishermen in distress while they were fishing in the sea.

It was on Monday that fishermen at Honnavar fishing harbour received a distress signal from a boat in mid sea.

However, no one dared to venture into the sea. But Iqbal steered the fishing boat ‘Salamat’ along with Hamja, Ilias and Mansoor of Honnavar fishing harbour, for rescue operation.

‘Salamat’ sailed near the boat in distress despite heavy winds and rains. All the three crew members of the boat were then rescued and the boat was towed to the harbour.

According to these crew, which includes Damodar, R T Venkatesh and Raman, they were on their way to Goa from Cochin in the boat ‘Ocean Spring’ on September 1.

But the boat’s diesel gets exhausted near Mangalore. When the crew thought of steering the boat back to Malpe fishing harbour for fueling, they lost control over the boat with its engine stopped functioning.

The boat began to drift in the mid sea. The heavy rains and gusty winds worsened the situation.

By next day morning, the crew found themselves near a shore in far distance and sent SOS. The three were all praise for Iqbal and his friends for saving them from disaster.