AP’s 7 Missing Fishermen Finally Traced, Taken to Harbour near Kolkata
They have been brought to safety and sent to the hospital for treatment
Vijayawada: In a major development, the seven fishermen, who had entered sea at Vodalarevu in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district in Andhra Pradesh on August 3 and went missing, have been rescued. Their boat had been spotted drifting in the sea off Sankarpur Fishing Harbour near Kolkata in West Bengal on Wednesday. They have been brought to safety and sent to the hospital for treatment.
Agriculture minister K. Atchannaidu shared the news in Vijayawada on Wednesday.
Soon after authorities realised that the seven fishermen had not returned to the shore within the stipulated time, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu sought the intervention of central government, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, and other agencies.
Authorities launched a search operation for the missing fishermen in the sea including through aerial surveys. Assuming the possibility of their boat stalling and drifting, authorities studied wind speeds and their directions, and tidal waves. Based on scientific analysis, authorities felt the stranded boat might have drifted towards the West Bengal coastline. Accordingly, authorities alerted the local fishermen as well as the Indian Coast Guard in the region.
Finally, all the seven missing fishermen had been spotted drifting off the Sankarpur Fishing Harbour. A rescue boat rushed into the sea and brought the missing fishermen safely to the shore.
Authorities enabled the rescued fishermen to talk to their family members. The minister said officials spoke to Bhavani Prasad, brother of the stranded boat’s owner, who has confirmed that all the missing fishermen are safe and healthy.
Atchannaidu thanked the central and the state government authorities, Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, APRTGS, Fisheries department, and the Konaseema district administration for their coordinated work in tracing out the missing fishermen and rescuing them.
Rambabu, one of the seven missing fishermen, told authorities over phone that when they had been on sea, their boat’s engine developed a technical snag, which could not be repaired. This resulted in their boat drifting in the sea. The fisherman said they had no food during the final three days, before they had been rescued from near the Kolkata shore and brought ashore.