Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Jan 19: The fishing boat, 'Suvarna Tribhuja', which has gone missing without leaving a trace since December 15, had got inkling of the problems ahead in the initial hours since it began its journey. It has come to light with delay that the boat's radiator had developed technical snag after the boat set sail and moved three kilometers into the sea from Malpe port.
As soon as the radiator problem was detected, the driver of the boat had turned the boat towards the port. The boat reached the shore, got the radiator repaired, and went into the sea again. It is said that the boat was driven at high speed by its driver in order to reach a group of fishing boats which had accompanied this boat earlier. Sources say that experts have given the opinion that the radiator which had just been repaired runs the risk of developing explosion in it under such circumstances.
In this background, search operation with ultra modern sound navigation and ranging (SONAR) system between 25 and 40 nautical miles off the port are under way. After 'Suvarna Tribhuja' lost is connectivity with mobile and wireless equipment on December 15, it is guessed that something happened to it between 2 am and 7 am after midnight. The probe is specifically pointed towards getting an answer to this question.
Relating to the mysterious case of the boat and seven fishermen going missing, the search operations so far had centered around the chances of the boat having been abducted or met with an accident. Relating to the abduction theory, detailed search has been conducted from Kochi and Gujarat shore without any success. Therefore, it is said, the investigators have come to the conclusion that the chances of the boat having been abducted are remote.
In the meantime, a plastic box was found from Sindhudurg, Maharashtra area between December 16 and 18. At the same time, a warship that moved from Kochin to Karwar and Mumbai on December 15 had suffered some damage. The investigators are now making an effort to find whether this damage was caused due to the accident involving the ship and 'Suvarna Tribhuja' fishing boat.