Dec 26 – Two water sports boat operators have been arrested and the boat owner has been booked by police in connection with the boat capsize incident at Calangute yesterday. The arrested boat operators are identified as 42-year-old Dhareppa Zirali from Belgaum and 34-year-old Ibrahimsab from Shimoga. The boat owner Meena Coutinho has also been booked in the matter. A 45-year-old person from Ratnagiri had died after a boat carrying around 13 people had capsized in the sea near Calangute beach.
Captain of Ports has also suspended operation NOC issued to the passenger boat pointing out that the boat capacity is maximum 10 persons and 2 crew but the boat has more passengers than that. “Seems to be a case of overloading which led to the unfortunate incident of the vessel,” states the NOC suspension notice issued to the boat owner Meena Coutinho.
