Staff Correspondent
Sri Vijaya Puram, July 19: A 44-year-old man reportedly jumped into the sea from the passenger ferry M.V. Sher Ali yesterday evening, just two minutes before it reached Hope Town Jetty, triggering a large-scale search operation by multiple agencies. His body was recovered today evening after an extensive search.
The deceased has been identified as Mr. Habib, a resident of Hope Town, who was engaged in private work. According to initial information, he had boarded the ferry from Marine Jetty and was travelling to Hope Town when the incident occurred.
Sources said that shortly before the ferry reached Hope Town Jetty, Mr. Habib suddenly jumped into the sea from the rear side of the vessel. A few passengers present nearby immediately alerted the crew, who informed the authorities.
Upon receiving the information, teams from Police Station Bambooflat, the Police Marine Force (PMF), local fishermen and residents rushed to the spot and launched a coordinated search operation. Search teams combed the waters around Hope Town Jetty and nearby areas throughout the night in an effort to trace the missing man.
The search operation continued on Sunday, and at around 5.00 p.m., the body of Mr. Habib was recovered from the sea, nearly 500 metres from the spot where he had reportedly jumped into the water. The body was subsequently brought ashore and taken into police custody for further legal formalities.
Police have initiated an investigation into the incident. The reason behind the extreme step is yet to be ascertained.
