UDUPI: Proposal for a dedicated sea ambulance for the state received fresh legs with Coastal Security Police (CSP) under internal security division (ISD) of the Karnataka state police forwarding it to the state government for consideration.
This follows persistent requests from the fisherfolk for such a facility in the state on lines with a similar set up already in vogue in neighbouring Kerala, noted R Chethan, superintendent of police, CSP.
Interacting with the media after a live-demonstration of the charter of duties of CSP off Malpe coast, Chethan said since its inception in 2010, CSP has rescued around 460 fishermen in 82 separate cases registered in nine CSP police stations dotting the state.
While protection of the coastline is our main duty, we have taken up this welfare activity for fishermen that are usually handled by the department of fisheries at their behest, Chethan said.
The above rescue acts have underscored the need for upgraded facilities such as sea ambulance which will enable the CSP personnel to effectively handle the rescue operations and most importantly save lives out at Sea, he said.
The sea ambulance, when operational, will have a trained doctor on board so that rescued fishermen can receive emergency medical assistance on boat itself, which can mean saving a precious human life.
Both the CSP and fisheries department have forwarded this proposal to the government and it is up to the government to take a call on modalities of who handles this resource as and when approved.
"We have sent the specifications needed for the sea ambulance after studying the same from Kerala,” Chethan said.
The existing 5 tonne and 12-tonne capacity boats with CSP are not an effective tool in effecting lifesaving mid-sea rescue operation, he said.