Inquiry begins into interceptor boat fire

December 6, 2014

Mangaluru, Dec 6: A departmental inquiry was initiated in connection with the fire mishap that occurred with an interceptor boat belonging to the Coastal Security Police (CSP) at Thannirbavi beach in the city on Thursday.

On Friday, the DIG of Coastal Security Police Pratap Reddy and other officials visited the scene of accident and ordered a departmental inquiry in the accident, it is said. At the same time, officials from the fire service department also visited the spot for inspection.

According to sources, maintenance of the AC functioning was ongoing on the boat when it caught fire on Thursday.

It is learnt that all safety equipment such life jackets and searchlights as well as fire extinguishing material that were kept onboard the interceptor were burnt in the fire.

A CSP official informed that the operator as well as the technical staff of the interceptor had been commissioned recently.

It is said that the cause for the vessel to catch fire despite all safety measures implemented in the boat could be revealed after the inquiry.

As soon as the boat caught fire where it was docked on Thursday, CSP personnel, o other labourers and locals immediately rushed to put out the fire. A fire engine had also arrived at the spot.

It is said that the arrival of insurance agents was expected shortly as the boat was insured. In the complaint lodged at Panambur police station, a loss of over Rs 1 crore has been reported.

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Major facelift for Mangaluru's sporting heart: Mangala Stadium set for 2-month closure to upgrade synthetic track

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Educational institutions in Mangaluru that rely on the popular Mangala Stadium for their annual sports events are bracing for an inconvenience as the city's key sporting venue is set to close its gates for a significant upgrade. The stadium is expected to be unavailable for approximately two months starting from January 15, 2026.

The closure is necessitated by a proposed overhaul of the stadium's facilities, with a special focus on upgrading the synthetic track. Pradeep Dsouza, Assistant Director of the District of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES), Dakshina Kannada, confirmed the development.

"Experts have visited the stadium, conducted a thorough inspection, and have given the go-ahead for a complete makeover," Dsouza stated. "Funds have been allocated for the project, and we are currently awaiting the final green signal from state officials to commence the work. We anticipate that the work will likely begin in the second week of January. Consequently, we have stopped renting out the stadium to colleges and other organizations in preparation for the upgrade."

The timing presents a logistical challenge for colleges, as many schools have already concluded their sports meets.

"Colleges will now be organizing their events and will need to find alternative locations to host their sports meets," Dsouza added. He suggested a few potential venues, including the Dakshina Kannada police ground, University College grounds, Panambur grounds, Swaraj Maidan in Moodbidri, and the Mangalore University sports grounds in Konaje.

However, many institutions note that finding a comparable venue will be difficult. While the DK police ground and University College grounds are closer to the city center, they do not possess the extensive facilities and infrastructure offered by Mangala Stadium.

Dr. P Dayananda Pai - P Satisha Govt First Grade College, Carstreet, is one such institution dependent on the stadium. Principal Jayakar Bhandary expressed hope for a swift completion of the work. "We expect the work to be completed at the earliest. If not, we will be forced to look for other venues to host the sports day for our students," Bhandary said, highlighting the pressing need for the city's main sporting facility.

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