Andhra CM orders search and rescue operation as 7 fishermen from Visakhapatnam go missing after venturing into sea amid rough weather
Visakhapatnam, July 5
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu ordered a search and rescue operation on Sunday after seven fishermen went missing at sea near Visakhapatnam due to rough weather, according to a statement from the Chief Minister's Office.
According to the East Coast Mechanised Fishing Boat Owners Association of India, the fishermen ventured into the sea from Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour on July 1 at around 3 am aboard a mechanised fishing boat.
"In the early hours of July 1, around 3:00 am, a total of seven fishermen set out for a fishing expedition from the Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour aboard the boat bearing registration number IND-AP-MM-V5-83," said association president Vasupalli Janakiram.
Of the seven missing fishermen, six are from Mukkam village in Bhogapuram Mandal of Vizianagaram district, while one is from Peda Nagamayya Palem in Bheemili Mandal of Visakhapatnam district. Their families reside in the Jalaripeta-Jabbar Thota area near the Visakhapatnam fishing harbour.
Janakiram said the fishermen are suspected to have gone missing due to rough sea conditions linked to the prevailing weather system. He expressed concern and urged authorities to expedite rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister's Office, in a statement, said Naidu reviewed the situation with senior officials and directed the use of Coast Guard vessels in the search operation. Officials informed him that Indian Navy helicopters have also been deployed as part of the rescue effort.
The Chief Minister also instructed the Marine Inspector General of Police and the Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner to coordinate the ongoing search operation at sea. He further directed officials to keep him regularly informed about the progress of the rescue efforts.
Further details are awaited.
— ANI
Reader Comments
😢 This is heartbreaking. Seven families in Jalaripeta must be worried sick. Hope the Navy and Coast Guard find them soon. Fishermen are the backbone of our coastal economy, and their safety needs more attention from authorities
Good that CM Naidu personally intervened and deployed Navy helicopters and Coast Guard vessels. But we need a permanent solution - maybe better weather alert systems for fishermen and mandatory safety gear on all boats. Lives are precious
So scary. Growing up in Vizag, I've always seen the fishing community brave the sea daily. Hope this rescue operation succeeds and these men are reunited with their families. The coordination between state govt, Navy and Coast Guard is commendable
While the response is swift, I'm disappointed that fishermen still lack basic modern safety equipment. Why isn't the government mandating GPS trackers and life jackets on all boats? Prevention is better than search operations every time there's rough weather
Salute to the Navy and Coast Guard personnel risking their lives in this rescue mission 💙 These fishermen go out at 3 am to feed our nation. Hope they find shelter somewhere and are brought back safely. Their families are in my prayers
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