Daijiworld Media Network - Kaup (SP)
Kaup, May 16: A tugboat manned by eight contract workers, which had been deputed for work 16 nautical miles off New Mangalore Port Trust named Hat LI, overturned due to the force of the surging waves. The tugboat later was washed ashore at Padubidri.
Out of the eight workers, three reached the shore near Katapady Mattukopla. The body of another was found on the seashore at Thenka Yermal. The body has been preserved int he mortuary of Mulky hospital, police sources stated.
Chief officer Ashfaq Ali Khalpe, and his alliance team comprising workers of north Indian origin identified as Zibanul, Mionirul Molla, Karibul Siyajul Sheikh, Mainuddin Haque Sheikh, Pawan Chand Katoch, Najim Ahmed and Hemanath were in the tugboat when it capsized.
It is learnt that the tugboat used to go into the sea for undertaking pumping operations of crude oil to the port from the super ships arriving at the port for being supplied to Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. The boat was returning to the shore after work, when it faced adverse weather.
The body of Hemanath was found. Monirul Molla (34) and Kareebul Soiyajul Sheikh (24) are recovering in Udupi district hospital.
In a statement to the media, MRPL said, "We are pained to inform that, one TUG vessel named Alliance, which belongs to M/s Underwater Services Company Ltd, with eight of their men on board had faced distress today (Saturday). This company assists us in cargo unloading near our SPM and functions in coordination with port.
"Three of the eight men have survived, body of one has been found and rest are missing. Our cargo operation was completed on Friday and the vessel was supposed to return on the same day. However it started only on Saturday morning and had to face distress," MRPL stated, adding that more details would be provided after an update from the Coast Guard.
Speaking to daijiworld, the Coast Guard said that rescue operations which are still on are being hampered by the rough sea.