Five Fishermen Found Dead Off Andhra Coast As Rescue Teams Search For Four Missing

Rescuers have recovered the bodies of five fishermen from Tamil Nadu near the coast of Andhra Pradesh after their boat sank during stormy weather. Three bodies washed ashore at Kothapatnam in Ongole, while two more were found in the sea near Nizampatnam Port by the Indian Coast Guard.

Search Operations

Authorities deployed a Dornier aircraft and joined hands with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Chennai to search for four other men who remain missing. Nine fishermen had been on the ill-fated vessel when it left Nizampatnam on November 3 to meet other boats in Ramayapatnam. Strong winds and rough seas caused the boat to drift toward Adani Krishnapatnam Port, where it capsized two kilometres from the shore. The victims include eight men from Chennai and one from Cuddalore.

Official Response

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson travelled to Ongole to help families identify the victims at a hospital mortuary. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced a cash relief of seven lakh rupees for the families of each deceased fisherman, with two lakh rupees to be paid immediately, alongside free transport of the bodies back to Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, fishing community leaders and family members have urged authorities to speed up the search for the missing men and raised concerns about safety equipment on fishing boats.

Context

Fishermen along the eastern coast frequently face extreme weather dangers during the retreating monsoon and cyclone season, making safety gear and timely weather warnings vital. Search and rescue missions in rough seas often require coordinated efforts between the Coast Guard, state marine police, and local fishing associations.