Blame crumbling breakwater structure for boat mishaps

September 15, 2011

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Mangalore, September 15: The boat tragedy at Old Port Estuary mouth on Tuesday, where five persons were injured, is not the first of its kind this year. It's the third such incident where boats got stuck in the sand bar, but none were injured in the previous cases.

"The problem is mainly due to crumbling Kotepura-Ullal South Breakwater structure erected 18 years ago," says fisheries department deputy director Suresh Kumar Ullal. The North breakwater at Thota Bengre is 200m from the south breakwater. Breakwaters are constructed to protect an anchorage from the effects of ill weather and long shore drift.

He said, "The Rs 200-crore ADB-funded project to repair and extend the two breakwaters from 300m to 400m should solve the problem of sand accretion at the estuary mouth. The project is yet to commence."

The problem exists only in September and October due to the South Westerly winds depositing sands. They get dispersed during Easterly winds, which start October end.

Fishermen leader Umesh Karkera alleges dams in the upper reaches of Nethravathi river such as Thumbe, AMR and MRPL has reduced water inflow to the sea, thus, leading to accumulation of sand and narrowing the gap for boat movement to the sea for fishing.

Suresh Kumar begs to differ saying when the dams did not exist the estuary mouth was rougher than this. "The breakwaters have eased the problem. The problem cropped up as the breakwaters were not maintained," he adds.

Usually, the 200-m-wide estuary mouth allows 15 boats to go side by side in to the sea, but during these two months, a boat can only behind another one. Karkera also alleges the dredging done in January this year was not scientific. Sources say dredging was done according to fishermen leaders' satisfaction and under their supervision.

Dredging operation is a costly affair and owning a dredger is prohibitive. Even the New Mangalore Port (NMP) does not have its own dredger. NMP officials say it requires skilled manpower and lot of maintenance. Fifteen years ago, NMP had its own dredger and as it was not economical, it was disposed of.

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Media Release
November 24,2025

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Sharjah, UAE: Ayisha Basheer Esra, a talented young writer hailing from Aramboor in Dakshina Kannada’s Sullia taluk, marked a significant milestone in her burgeoning literary career with the launch of her debut novel, The Betrayal of the Kingdom, at the Sharjah International Book Fair. The prestigious event, recognized as the world’s largest book fair, provided a fitting stage for the unveiling of Esra’s work.

The official release ceremony was conducted by Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director of the Religious Affairs Office of the Sharjah Government and a distinguished member of the royal family, underscoring the significance of Esra’s achievement. Mrs. Lini Shivaprasad, Principal of GEMS Millennium School, Sharjah, had the honor of receiving the first copy of the novel.

The event was graced by the presence of numerous distinguished guests, reflecting the widespread recognition of Esra’s literary talent and the anticipation surrounding her debut novel. Among the notable attendees were Syed Panakkad Munawwarali Shihab Tangal, Dr. Mariam Al Shenasi, the UAE’s renowned writer and Head of Dar Al Yasmin Publications, Dr. K. K. N. Kurup, Retired Vice Chancellor of Calicut University and Historian, Sharjah Businessman Shamsuddin Bin Mohideen, Nizar Talangara, President of the Sharjah Indian Association, V. T Salim, Director of Silver Home Real Estate, Munir Al Wafa, MD of Lipi Publication Akbar, and other esteemed individuals.

At the remarkably young age of eight, Esra has already established herself as a prolific writer, authoring and publishing collections of short stories in addition to her newly released full-length novel. Her dedication to writing and her exceptional talent have positioned her as one of the youngest authors to achieve such literary success. 

Esra is the daughter of Basheer and Haseena, residents of Aramboor, Sullia, and currently a student at Sharjah’s GEMS Millennium School. Her early accomplishments serve as an inspiration to aspiring young writers and a testament to the power of nurturing creativity from a young age.

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News Network
December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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News Network
November 30,2025

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Mangaluru, Nov 30: A 22-year-old college student succumbed to her injuries at a private hospital in Mangaluru today, days after she was hit by a goods tempo while crossing a road in Padubidri.

The deceased has been identified as Preksha, a resident of Nadsalu Billitota in Padubidri. The fatal incident occurred as Preksha, who was returning home after completing her examination, attempted to cross the service road towards Mangaluru. She was struck by a goods tempo approaching from the Udupi side, causing her to fall and sustain a severe head injury.

Prompt action from local residents ensured she received immediate first aid before being rushed to a hospital in Mangaluru for specialised treatment. Despite medical efforts, she passed away while undergoing care.

Preksha was a student at Karavali College, Vamanjoor on the outskirts of Mangaluru city. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that she belonged to a financially vulnerable family, having previously lost her father. She is survived by her mother and brother.

A case related to the accident has been registered at the Padubidri police station, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances that led to the collision. The incident highlights the growing concerns over road safety, particularly on busy service roads, and serves as a tragic reminder of the human cost of traffic accidents.

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