Bhatkal – The body of the second fisherman who went missing after a fishing boat capsized in the Arabian Sea off the Murdeshwar coast was recovered on Friday morning near the Sanabhavi beach,Alvekodi. The deceased has been identified as Venkatesh Annappa Harikanth (29), a resident of Hiredomi, Mavalli-01, under the jurisdiction of the Murdeshwar Rural Police Station in Bhatkal taluk.

It is to be recalled that four fishermen — Anand Annappa Harikanth, his younger brother Venkatesh, their uncle Nagesh Narayan Harikanth, and a family acquaintance Madev Narayan Harikanth — had ventured into the sea on Thursday morning around 5:40 am in a mechanized gill net boat named Navagraha, registered under their father Annappa Harikanth.

According to survivor Anand Harikanth, the boat had barely travelled 100 meters from the Murdeshwar shore when it was struck by a powerful wave around 5:45 am, causing it to overturn. While Anand and Nagesh managed to swim to safety, Venkatesh was swept away and drowned. Madev Narayan Harikanth was rescued from the water but was declared dead on arrival at the hospital.

A day-long search operation was carried out on Thursday, and on Friday morning, Venkatesh's body was found washed ashore near the Ram Bhajana Mandir area in Sanabhavi, Alvekodi.

The Murdeshwar Rural Police have registered a case and are investigating the incident.