Coast Guards distribute 20 DATs to fishermen

Udupi, July 30: As many as 20 Distress Alert Transmitters (DAT) were given to the fishermen in Malpe free of cost by the Indian Coast Guard in a community interaction programme jointly organised by the Karnataka Fisheries and Indian Coast Guard here at Malpe Harbour on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, Coast Guard (Mangalore) Commandant Rajendra Sapal Singh opined that it is essential that fishermen join their hands with the Coast Guard to safeguard the long stretched coast of the country. Today, the country is faced with terror attacks very often and it is easier to pass explosives through sea than land and air. There is strict vigilance carried out at the borders.

Utmost security measures should be adopted at sea fences to stop the trafficking of explosives. Fishing community need to be involved in intelligence gathering network, he added.DAT is an equipment with four types of emergency buttons and is to be maintained at boats' cabin. It is water proof with 24 hours working capacity. As many as 123 DATs have been distributed across Karnataka, of which 85 were given away in the year 2011.

The four emergency buttons indicate the emergencies like fire, medical assistance, distress call for damages and when the boat is sinking and last button is for man overboard. It is connected to GPS via satellite.

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Udupi school girl Shagun Verma Hegde to lead India U-15 volleyball team in China

coastaldigest.com news network

December 2,2025

Udupi, Dec 2: A wave of regional pride is sweeping through Udupi district as Shagun S Verma Hegde, a talented Class 9 student from Christ King English Medium High School, Karkala, has been named the captain of the Indian National Team for the Under-15 Girls’ Volleyball Championship.

Shagun holds the unique distinction of being the sole player from Karnataka selected to represent the country in the prestigious international tournament. The championship, organized by the School Games Federation, is scheduled to take place in Shangluo, China, from December 3 to 13, where Shagun will lead the national squad.

A Remarkable Journey to the Top

Shagun’s selection is a testament to her dedication and exceptional skill on the court. Her journey included several rigorous rounds of selection:

• She was the only player from Udupi district to qualify for the state-level selection camp.

• Out of eight players from Karnataka who advanced to the national selection camp in Pune, Maharashtra, Shagun was the only one to secure a place in the final national squad.

• The national camp saw participation from approximately 200 players, which was shortlisted to 23. Shagun not only made the final cut but was also ranked as the second-best player overall, solidifying her leadership role.

Shagun, who is the daughter of Sandesh Verma and Shruthiraj of Kallotte, Karkala, has trained under experienced coaches Santosh D’Souza, Jeevan D’Silva, Jairaj Poojary, and Ramesh. Her selection as the team captain has brought profound honour to her family, school, the Udupi district, and the entire state of Karnataka.

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