Visakhapatnam: Search operations intensified on Sunday for six fishermen who went missing off the Visakhapatnam coast in Andhra Pradesh after one member of the seven-member crew was rescued safely, officials said.
The group of seven fishermen, belonging to Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts, had set out for fishing from the Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour on July 1.
As sea conditions deteriorated due to a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal, their families contacted them by mobile phone to warn them about the rough weather. The fishermen informed their families that they would return to the coast by the afternoon of July 4.
However, when they failed to return and their mobile phones were found switched off, their families alerted the Indian Coast Guard and the Marine Police.
The crew of a passing ship rescued Kare Chinnaiah, the owner of the fishing boat, and brought him safely to the coast on Sunday.
According to officials, the ship's crew spotted five fishermen in the sea, but only Chinnaiah was able to board the vessel. Based on the information provided by him and the ship's crew, the Coast Guard and Marine Police intensified efforts to locate and rescue the remaining stranded fishermen.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to step up search operations to trace the missing fishermen.
The Chief Minister spoke to senior officials over the phone from Kuppam in Chittoor district. Officials informed him that a Coast Guard vessel was searching for the missing boat in the Bay of Bengal.
They said the boat had departed from the Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour with seven fishermen at 4 p.m. on July 1 and was expected to return by the afternoon of July 4. However, it failed to return after reportedly developing a technical problem near the Gangavaram coast.
Officials also informed the Chief Minister that search operations involving Indian Navy helicopters commenced on Sunday morning.
The Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy and Marine Police are jointly conducting the search operation.
Naidu directed the Inspector General of Marine Police and the Visakhapatnam Commissioner of Police to coordinate the rescue efforts and keep him informed about the progress. He also instructed Minister Atchannaidu and local public representatives from Visakhapatnam to extend all possible assistance to the families of the missing fishermen.
With IANS inputs