Boat with 16 fishermen capsizes at Muthalapozhi, Adani yet to resume dredging

Days after a ministerial meeting to discuss the issues in Muthalapozhi, another boat capsize happened at the fishing harbour in Thiruvananthapuram district this morning. According to local media, all the 16 fishermen on board were rescued.

Marine Enforcement boats were deployed in the area following the meeting. They led the operations, which helped in the rescue of all 16 onboard.

Two fishermen managed to swim to shore, while the others were rescued by marine enforcement, coastal police, and fishermen engaged in rescue operations, they said. Officials said that six of the fishermen were injured and were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, the work to remove sand and stone from the breakwater has begun at Muthalapozhi.

The work is undertaken to reduce accidents in the area which are caused by huge waves due to the presence of accumulated sand and rocks near the breakwater.

As per reports, the Adani Ports would require one and half months to complete the dredging work.

A meeting convened by Ministers V Sivankutty, G R Anil and Antony Raju had asked Adani Ports to start dredging works at the breakwater at the earliest to bring a lasting solution to the issues at the harbour.

On July 11, four fishermen were killed in a boat accident at Muthalapozhi.