20000411

Boats capsize

2 fishmen

drown, 99

rescued

KARACHI: At least two fishermen were drowned and 99 were rescued between the nights of Sunday and Monday when three fishing boats capsized in Arabian Sea near Daam, some 60 kilometres from here, fishing sources said on Monday.

The deceased have been identified as Idrees s/o Mohammad Hasan and Abdul Karim s/o Bakhshoo both on-board ill-fated Al-Imran.

Fishermen said three fishing boats Al-Imran, Sitara Balochistan and Sagar Mail carrying on board 101 fishermen had left a small fishing village Daam along Mekran coast four days ago for fishing.

Late on Sunday night, these boats collided with each other after being trapped in a sea maelstrom near Daam and capsized in the sea.

Some of the fishermen swam to the nearby fishing boats and coastal area and informed the local fishermen about the incident.

The night-long hectic swift rescue operation by the local fishermen and administration saved the lives of 99 fishermen. The search for the bodies of two fishermen is still continuing.ÑAPP