Two Odisha fishermen dead from toxic fumes in Karnataka boat cold storage
Synopsis
Five fishermen are dead in Karwar district within three days — two on the Mookambika at Mudaga harbour on 31 October, and three on the Khuzaina at Tadadi harbour just days earlier. Both tragedies trace back to toxic gases from decomposing Chaman fish trapped in sealed boat storage compartments, exposing a lethal safety gap that Karnataka's fishing industry has yet to formally address.
Key Takeaways
Purandar Bisara, 21 , and Akash Naik, 24 , both from Odisha , died after inhaling toxic fumes at Mudaga fishing harbour , Karwar , on 31 October 2026 .
A third fisherman, Lalindar Dhruva, 41 , is hospitalised in serious condition at KRIMS Hospital , Karwar.
The incident occurred on the fishing boat Mookambika during cleaning of the cold storage compartment after a Chaman fish haul.
Just three days earlier , three more fishermen — Naushad Ali Raja , Aman Ayub Langadu , and Amir Abdul — died in an identical incident at Tadadi harbour in Kumta taluk .
In total, five fishermen have died across both incidents within Karwar district in three days.
Chaman fish decomposes within 24 hours , releasing toxic gases that can prove fatal in enclosed boat storage holds without proper ventilation.
Two fishermen from Odisha died after allegedly inhaling toxic fumes while cleaning the cold storage compartment of a fishing boat at Mudaga fishing harbour in Karwar taluk, Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka, officials said on Saturday, 31 October 2026. A third fisherman was hospitalised in serious condition, while two others were rescued safely from the same vessel.
What Happened at Mudaga Harbour
The tragedy unfolded aboard the fishing boat Mookambika, based out of Belekeri, after it returned to Mudaga harbour following a haul of Chaman fish. After unloading the catch, the crew began cleaning the boat's cold storage unit when toxic fumes and a powerful foul odour reportedly began emanating from the enclosed compartment, causing rapid suffocation.
Purandar Bisara, 21, and Akash Naik, 24, both natives of Odisha, were trapped inside the toxic environment and died on the spot, according to reports. A third crew member, Lalindar Dhruva, 41, was seriously affected and was immediately shifted to the Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences (KRIMS) Hospital, where he is undergoing emergency treatment. Two other fishermen involved in the cleaning operation were rescued without serious injury.
The Pattern: A Second Tragedy in Three Days
This incident comes just three days after a near-identical tragedy at Tadadi harbour in Kumta taluk of the same Karwar district, where three fishermen lost their lives under strikingly similar circumstances. Those victims — Naushad Ali Raja, 35, of Kagal village; Aman Ayub Langadu of Onhalli; and Amir Abdul of Unchalli, all from Kumta taluk — died on a Tuesday evening after boarding the purse seine boat Khuzaina, owned by a person named Khasim from Vanhalli.
'They had gone towards Goa where they caught a fish variety called chaman, which gets spoilt within 24 hours. The catch was big, but their arrival at the Tadadi port was delayed by a day. By then, the entire lot was spoilt,' said Gokarna police, explaining the buildup of poisonous gases from rotting fish in the enclosed hold. In total, five fishermen have now died across the two incidents within three days in Karwar district.
Why Chaman Fish Poses a Hidden Danger
According to officials, Chaman fish is known to decompose rapidly — within approximately 24 hours — releasing toxic gases into sealed storage compartments. When crews enter these enclosed spaces without adequate ventilation or protective equipment, the risk of fatal asphyxiation is acute. The confined design of cold storage holds amplifies gas concentration, leaving little time for escape once exposure begins. This is the kind of occupational hazard that fishermen's safety frameworks in India have historically not addressed in sufficient detail.
Safety Concerns and What Comes Next
The twin tragedies have triggered fresh calls from local fishermen's associations and safety observers for mandatory ventilation protocols and protective gear before crews enter storage compartments following fish unloading. Notably, a significant proportion of fishermen working on Karnataka's coast originate from Odisha, making safety enforcement a concern that cuts across state boundaries. Officials have not yet announced formal investigations or regulatory reviews, but pressure is mounting on harbour authorities and the fishing industry to act swiftly. Whether these deaths prompt binding safety regulations or remain an isolated response remains to be seen.
Point of View
In the same district, on the same type of vessel — this is no longer an isolated accident; it is a systemic failure. The fishing industry's reliance on migrant labour from states like Odisha, combined with the absence of mandatory confined-space entry protocols at Karnataka's harbours, creates a predictably fatal combination. Authorities have known about the risks of toxic gas buildup in fish storage holds for years, yet no binding safety regulation governs how or when crews may enter these compartments. If this week's deaths do not trigger enforceable ventilation standards and protective equipment mandates, the next tragedy is already a matter of time.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused the deaths of the two fishermen at Mudaga harbour in Karwar?
The two fishermen, Purandar Bisara and Akash Naik, both from Odisha, died after allegedly inhaling toxic fumes that built up inside the cold storage compartment of the fishing boat Mookambika at Mudaga harbour, Karwar, on 31 October 2026. The fumes reportedly originated from decomposing Chaman fish stored in the sealed hold.
How many fishermen have died in similar incidents in Karwar recently?
A total of five fishermen have died in two separate but nearly identical incidents in Karwar district within three days. Three died at Tadadi harbour in Kumta taluk on a Tuesday evening, and two more died at Mudaga harbour on 31 October 2026.
Why is Chaman fish particularly dangerous in enclosed boat storage?
Chaman fish is known to spoil within approximately 24 hours, releasing toxic gases as it decomposes. In sealed, poorly ventilated cold storage compartments on fishing boats, these gases accumulate rapidly to lethal concentrations, leaving crew members with almost no time to escape once exposed.
Who were the victims in the earlier Tadadi harbour incident?
The three fishermen who died at Tadadi harbour were Naushad Ali Raja, 35, from Kagal village; Aman Ayub Langadu from Onhalli; and Amir Abdul from Unchalli — all from Kumta taluk. They died after entering the purse seine boat Khuzaina, owned by Khasim of Vanhalli, where the Chaman fish catch had rotted after the vessel was delayed by a day.
What safety measures are being called for after these incidents?
The twin tragedies have prompted calls for mandatory ventilation protocols and protective equipment before crew members enter boat storage compartments after fish unloading. No formal investigation or regulatory review has been officially announced yet, though pressure is building on harbour authorities and the fishing industry to introduce binding safety standards.
