Over 100 migrants drowned off Libyan coast: NGO
Tripoli, Sep 11 : More than 100 migrants drowned when the precarious and overloaded vessel they were using in a bid to cross the Mediterranean from Libya sank last week before help reached them, French NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said in a report on Tuesday.
Eyewitnesses told MSF that two rubber boats, each carrying more than 160 people, left the Libyan coast en route to Europe on September 1. One boat suffered an engine failure but the second, which had 165 adults and 20 children on board, continued its journey before it began to deflate near the coast of Malta, Efe news reported.
"At that time, the mobile satellite phone showed that we were not far from Maltese coast. We called the Italian Coast Guard and sent our coordinates, asking for assistance as people started to fall in the water. We were told they would send someone. But the boat started sinking," a survivor told MSF.
"We couldn't swim and only a few people had life jackets. Those among us who could hold on the boat's floating hood stayed alive," he said.
According to an eyewitness, the boat had already capsized by the time rescuers made it to the scene and only 55 people survived. Survivors were brought to Libya by the Libyan Coast Guard.
Among the nationalities on board the two migrant vessels were Sudanese, Malians, Nigerians, Cameroonians, Ghanaians, Libyans, Algerians and Egyptians.
Over 1,500 migrants have died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean so far this year, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Many more have been rescued, although Italy, a primary destination for migrants travelling from Libya, recently started to refuse entry to migrant ships.
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Narcotics worth Rs 1.26 lakh, seized in 13 separate cases in Raichur, destroyed by police
Raichur: In a major step towards prevention of substance abuse, officers from various police stations in the district destroyed 11 kg narcotics (ganja) worth Rs 1.26 lakh seized over the last two years in multiple cases in Raichur.
The officers destroyed the narcotics on Thursday at the medical disposal of narcotics unit situated on the Yaklaspur Road. The narcotics had been confiscated in 13 separate cases filed at the Balaganur, Thurvihala, Yargera, Maski, Raichur Rural, Raichur CEN, Sindhnur Rural, Sadar Bazar and Lingasugur police stations in 2023 and 2024.
Raichur Superintendent of Police M Puttamadayya, who also heads the Narcotics Disposal Committee, ASP-2 G Harish, DySP MG Sathyanarayan Rao of Raichur Sub-division, DySP of Dattatreya Karnad of Lingasugur Sub-division, RIM Act (Raichur) chairperson Dr. Shreeshailesh Amarkheda, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) Environment Officer Prakash, Deputy Environment Officer Shailaja V Ameengadh, technician Jayakumar, DCRB unit Inspector Thimmanna S were present.
