log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY JUNE 14, 2025 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 357 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 2 Sole survivor of AI plane crash recalls how he cheated death Drone video survey conducted on molasses tank in Canacona GOA NEWS SSA funds fraud: CB takes over probe, two more arrested Israel launches fresh strikes on Iran after targeting nuclear sites THE LUCKY SEAT 11A: THERE WAS SOME SPACE… WHEN THE DOOR BROKE, I SAW THAT SPACE, I JUST JUMPED OUT AGENCIES NEW DELHI Only one person stepped out alive from the twisted remains of Air India flight AI-171—a scene of unimaginable devastation. Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, a British-Indian national seated in 11A, emerged as the sole survivor of Thursday’s horrific crash, which turned a routine flight into India’s deadliest aviation disaster in decades. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner had barely lifted off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:38 p.m. when disaster struck. Seconds later, it plunged into a multi-storey hostel housing resident doctors from BJ Medical College in Meghaninagar. Ramesh’s survival is being called a miracle, but the weight of what he witnessed will likely remain with him forever. The 40-year-old businessman based in UK, walked out of the wreckage dazed, blood- WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED CRASH „„Single engine failure, landing gears not raised, aircraft stalled „„Rare dual engine failure „„Wrong take-off flaps configuration in wrong position „„Engine failure, but functional engine shut down accidentally ied and burned. His brother, seated in 11J across the aisle, was not as fortunate. "Everything happened in front of my eyes. I thought I would die," Ramesh told a TV channel hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited him at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. FINAL MOMENTS According to preliminary air traffic control logs, the Dreamliner took off from run- Black box found on hostel rooftop Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the lone survivor of the Air India flight crash, at a hospital in Ahmedabad on Friday. way 23 at 13:38 IST. It climbed normally for a few seconds before the pilot radioed a Mayday distress call. Eyewitnesses near the airport perimeter reported hearing abnormal engine noise, followed by a steep nosedive. Seconds later, the aircraft slammed into the hostel's southern wing. VIEW FROM SEAT 11A Seat 11A is positioned in the first row of economy class, directly behind the business cabin and close to the emergency exits on the left side. When the aircraft hit the ground, the front-left section, including 11A, collapsed into the ground floor of the hostel building, not the upper levels where the aircraft's main body suffered its worst destruction. "The side where I was seated fell into the ground floor of the building," Ramesh recounted. "There was some space. When the door broke, Nearly 600 trawlers flout licence rules THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In what could be serious regulatory lapses by the Department of Fisheries, around 600 fishing vessels are allegedly operating without licences. The revelation that came to the fore through an internal order has again raised questions on the longstanding concerns about the effective functioning of the Department. The development also comes in the backdrop of Shamila Monteiro’s return as Director of Fisheries -- a move that has reignited several unresolved controversies such as illegal LED fishing, poor hygiene standards at jetties and trawlers, and a reportedly IN TROUBLED WATERS „„Only 292 licences had been issued for 2025 „„658 transponders -- used for vessel tracking -- installed „„Many trawlers operating without crew records „„No penalties imposed on violators since 2014 lax approach towards vessel registration during her earlier tenure. An internal directive issued on April 30, 2025, by Monteiro’s predecessor Yashaswini B (IAS) and marked ‘Most Urgent’ stated that only 292 vessel licences had been issued for 2025 -- the current fishing season. As per the compiled data, a total of 292 licenses had been Konkani students to get preference for scholarships in Karnataka PTI MANGALURU The World Konkani Centre on Friday announced that students who studied Konkani as a third language in Karnataka schools will be given preference for its engineering and medical scholarship programme starting this year. According to a statement issued by Nandagopal Shenoy, president of the Vishwa Konkani Kendra, eligible students must register through a google form available on the official website (www.vishwakonkani.org)/ They then need to send supporting documents including PUC II marks card, a certificate from the school headmaster confirming Konkani as a third-language subject, Proof of college admission (engineering or medical), fee structure, CET or NEET scorecards, and registration details to the Secretary, World Konkani Scholarship Fund, World Konkani Centre, Shaktinagar. The scholarship will be merit–cum–means support for professional engineering and medical programmes for students who have taken Konkani as their third language during school in Karnataka. World Konkani Centre is founded by Konkani Bhas Ani Sanskriti Prathistan to serve as a centre for the preservation and overall development of Konkani language, art and culture involving all the Konkani people the world over. issued across the four major jetties in the State while 658 transponders -- used for vessel tracking -- had been installed, indicating a large number of boats operating without valid documentation. Official sources confirmed to The Goan that about 600 fishing vessels are allegedly illegally operating without mandatory licenses. Following directions from the Secretary (Fisheries), the zonal Superintendents were tasked with issuing showcause notices to all boat owners who failed to renew their licenses. The order instructed them to treat the matter as a top priority. “All Superintendents of Fisheries are instructed to initiate the process of issuing >Continued on P5 NEW DELHI: Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Friday said the black box of Air India's crashed Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft has been recovered from the rooftop of the residential quarters of BJ Medical College. “AAIB began work with full force immediately. Over 40 staff joined efforts to augment the teams. I saw that space and I just jumped out." JUST LUCK Ramesh was lucky. The section opposite him, where the plane had rammed into a wall, was sealed off by debris and fire. None of the occupants from those rows survived. "The door must've broken on impact," he said. "There >Continued on P5 9 SPORTS WTC: Markram and Bavuma put South Africa in sight of glory Inquiry into rape case on PANAJI: Police are probing whether the two accused in the alleged sexual assault of three underage girls in a Calangtue hotel were involved in ‘grooming’ other victims. ON PAGE 3 14 Hotel registration revoked PANAJI: The Tourism Department has directed cancelling the registration of the Calangute hotel linked to the sexual assault of three minor girls on June 7. Happy Birthday to our Dynamic & Visionary Leader Shri. Vijai Sardesai Former Dy. CM of Goa & MLA Fatorda Constituency Many Happy returns of the day to a Visionary Leader! Your guidance and direction are truly inspirational and such a blessings to each and every youngster here! Best Wishes From... Warren Alemao Social Worker Benaulim Constituency