Boat wreckage found; no information regarding corpses

Team Udayavani, May 9, 2019, 12:26 PM IST

Udupi: The official information regarding the finding of the deep sea trawler Suvarna Tribhuja which had gone missing along with its crew of 7 fishermen was provided to Udupi SP by the Navy on May 7^th.

The Navy had tweeted the finding of the missing vessel on its twitter handle. Information regarding was provided to the media by MLA Raghupati Bhat as well. SP Nisha James had written a letter on May 3^rd to naval officers at the Karwar base to give a detailed report in this context.

No information regarding corpses

In the operation that was conducted from Apr 30^th to May 2^nd, the wreckage of the doomed vessel was located 30kms from the coast of Maharahstra’s Malwan region at a depth of 60mt. But there is no information regarding the corpses.

Continuous contact

Complaint has been filed regarding the missing fishermen. Hence, in the absence of proper physical proof, the police department cannot close the case for a period of 7 years. But it is also impossible for the police to directly collect the evidence in this case. Assistance will be required form the navy and the coast guard. Maharashtra Sindhudurg SP has been communicated.  Essential information will be taken from the navy. This is a rare case. Even then, the locating of the wreckage is a very important development, said the SP.

The photo is from the navy

The photo being published news media regarding the damage sustained at the bottom of INS Kochi was also released by the navy itself. More information regarding the damage suffered by the vessel has been requested, informed the SP.

Letter to the Shipping Directorate

In the backdrop of the information regarding the movement of a container ship from Mumbai to Haldi in West Bengal in the same route as that of INS Kochi, a letter has been written to the Shipping Directorate, said the SP.

“No need of compensation; first find out loved ones”

Malpe: Although the wreckage of Suvarna Tribhuja was found by INS Nirakshaka, it is still question on who and when the wreckage will be brought to the surface. Amidst this, the state government has come forward to provide compensation to the families of the missing fishermen, but the families are demanding that their loved ones be found.

“It is fine to provide compensation to manage life, but it is wrong to provide compensation stating they are dead,” says Pandu, father-in-law of one of the missing fishermen Harish (23) from Alvekodi in Bhatkal.

Malpe Fishermen’s Association has informed us that they will take us to meet the defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman for talks on May 16^th post which, the final decision will be taken, he informed.

No own house

The family of Harish does not have their own house. All are living in the house belonging to the father-in-law Pandu. Father Shaniyar Moger and mother Dhanavanti live their lives by selling fish.