In the second such incident in less than a week, two fishermen died on Monday (August 11) after a fishing boat they were travelling in capsized in the mouth of the treacherous Muthalapozhi harbour in Thiruvananthapuram. Three people sustained injuries in the accident, while the condition of one injured is slated to be serious. The deceased were identified as Joseph (43), also known as Shijin, a native of Chirayinkeezhu, and Michael (68) of Kunnumpuram House, Anchuthengu.

The three injured – Jinu, Anu, and Sujith, natives of Anchuthengu, who were in the boat during the time of the accident – have been admitted to Chirayinkeezhu taluk hospital, while the bodies of the deceased are kept at the mortuary of the taluk hospital. The accident occurred at 6 p.m. on Monday when the men were heading to the sea for fishing from the harbour.

The fishing vessel capsized in a strong wave in the mouth of the harbour where the Vamanapuram River drains into the Arabian Sea, causing eddy currents. It is very difficult for the fishermen to manoeuvre the fishing vessel due to wave breaking in the shallow channel. The deposition of sand at the mouth of the harbour from the river makes the channel shallow, causing wave breaking.

Rescue operations were carried out by nearby boats. Joseph died on the spot, while Michael was declared dead after being taken to the hospital. On August 7, a fishing boat that was returning to the harbour after the catch capsized. Although five fish workers in the boat were rescued by fishermen in the nearby boat, two persons hailing from Anchuthengu sustained injuries in the accident. According to fishermen’s representatives, the perilous channel has claimed the lives of as many as 78 fishermen since the fishing harbour was established in 2011.

Study on unscientific breakwaters

The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune, has recently prepared a detailed project report based on a model study conducted to mitigate the impact of the unscientific construction of the existing breakwaters at the Muthalapozhi harbour. Based on this, the State government submitted a proposal to the Centre to implement a project, which was approved recently.