3 pilgrims die; 2 go missing in Arabian sea off Gujarat coastline

Ahmedabad

Three people were killed and two others went missing today after they were swept away in the high tide of the sea in Devbhoomi-Dwarka district, officials said here today.

“Three persons died and two others went missing in the sea near Pindara village of Kalyanpur taluka of Devboomi- Dwarka district today,” District Superintendent of Police in Devbhoomi-Dwarka J A Patel told PTI.

The incident occurred this morning when around 50 people went about 4 km into the sea to pay homage in an old temple of Lord Shiva-Pindareswar Mahadev, he said.

Around 45 people were saved with the help of the Navy’s rescue team, officials said.

“There is a tradition of paying homage at this temple on the day of Shravani Amavass (new moon day of rainy season as per the Hindu calendar). However, since they were not acquainted with the tides, they drowned during the high tide,” Patel said.

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySp) of Jamkhambhaliya taluka of Devbhoomi-Dwarka district, Juli Kotia, the deceased were identified as Hirabhai Gajrabhai (55), Ratilal S Raval (55), who are both from Jamnagar district and Ashish J Savdas (32) of Devbhoomi-Dwarka district.

Their bodies were fished out with the help of local administration, Kotia told PTI, adding that efforts are on to find those who went missing.

PTI