Despite rough weather, sea, air search continues for six fishermen

A fisherman rescued from a mechanised fishing boat that went missing off the Visakhapatnam coast was brought safely ashore by the Indian Navy on Monday evening, even as the search continued for the remaining six fishermen.

Kari Chinna, the lone survivor among the seven fishermen who had ventured into the sea aboard the mechanised fishing boat IND-AP-MM-VS-83, was airlifted by a Navy helicopter and brought to INS Dega at around 7 p.m. He was later sent for medical examination, following which doctors declared him to be in good health.

Inspector General of Police (Visakhapatnam Range) and Additional Director General, Coastal Security, Gopinath Jatti, said that the search and rescue operation for the six missing fishermen would continue until they are traced.

Addressing a press conference at the Collectorate along with Joint Collector Gobbilla Vidyadhari and Visakhapatnam South MLA Vamsi Krishna Srinivas Yadav, Mr. Jatti said: “The Coastal Security Police alerted the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy immediately after receiving information about the incident, following which a coordinated search and rescue operation was launched.”

The mechanised fishing boat had left the Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour on July 1 and was due to return on July 4. Officials said the boat was suspected to have met with an accident owing to adverse weather conditions, strong winds and high waves. Of the seven fishermen on board, Mr. Chinna was rescued by the Panama-flag merchant vessel MV Universe Wealth.

Mr. Jatti added that two Indian Coast Guard vessels, two Indian Navy ships, Dornier aircraft, helicopters and electronic surveillance through the Regional Operations Station (ROS), Visakhapatnam, were deployed in the search operations. Despite wave heights of up to four metres and strong winds hampering operations, the standard 72-hour search had been extended by another 24 hours. He said that the search would continue until the missing fishermen were traced and that the government was in constant touch with the affected families while extending all necessary assistance.

Mr. Jatti appealed to the fishermen to ensure that the transponders installed on their boats remain switched on whenever they ventured to sea.

In a separate update, the Indian Coast Guard said that it had deployed ICGS Kanak Lata Barua and ICGS Veera, along with three helicopters, for the search operation. The Eastern Naval Command has also deployed two warships, a Sea King helicopter and an Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). The operation is being monitored by the Regional Operations Centre (ROC), Visakhapatnam.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, 20 fishermen were stranded after their fishing boat developed engine trouble in rough weather and were rescued jointly by the Coastal Security Police, the Indian Coast Guard and the Odisha Marine Police. They were shifted safely to another fishing boat before being brought towards the Odisha coast with the assistance of the Coast Guard.