Search operation underway; By 4 pm, with no contact and no sign of the boat, the family alerted the Baliapal police, the fisheries department, and the fire services. The three agencies launched a coordinated search and rescue operation, combing the coastal waters for any sign of the missing men or their vessel
Bhubaneswar: Four fishermen from Kankadapal village under Baliapal block in Odisha’s Balasore district have gone missing after setting out to sea early Saturday morning. A massive search operation involving multiple agencies is currently underway.
The missing have been identified as Gopalgiri, his sons Madhusudan Giri and Rabindra Giri, and Madhusudan’s brother-in-law, Jagannath Pal—all members of the same extended family.
According to local sources, the group left the shore around 8 am in a motorised fishing boat, following their routine schedule. However, when they failed to return by noon, concern began to mount among family members.
By 4 pm, with no contact and no sign of the boat, the family alerted the Baliapal police, the fisheries department, and the fire services. The three agencies launched a coordinated search and rescue operation, combing the coastal waters for any sign of the missing men or their vessel.
Despite hours of effort, the fishermen remained untraceable. In the evening, the Talasari Marine Police deployed a drone to scan the coastline and nearby sea zones in a bid to locate the boat or any debris.
Authorities suspect a possible mechanical failure may have left the boat adrift. Family members say the group typically avoids deep-sea fishing, which has added to their fears of an accident close to the shore.
As of late Sunday afternoon, no trace of the men had been found. The search operation was ongoing, and the anxious families await any news of their loved ones. Officials have not ruled out any possibilities and say every effort is being made to bring the men back safely.
