The six fishermen, who went missing on a mechanised boat off Machilipatnam coast since June 17, were finally traced off 140 km Sagar Island in West Bengal on Friday. A team of the Coast Guard has sighted them at around 8 a.m. during search operation.
Speaking to The Hindu over phone, office of the Deputy Inspector General of Coast Guard, West Bengal, has confirmed that all the six fishermen were safe while one among them was suffering from dehydration. According to DIG, West Bengal Coast Guard Commander Sanatan Jana, the fishermen were being transported on Coast Guard vessel, Rajkiran.
The vessel was expected to reach Port of Haldia by Saturday afternoon due to unsupportive weather conditions on the sea. The mechanised boat in which the fishermen sailed for fishing was damaged and hence it was left there on the sea waters. On being informed about the rescue of the missing fishermen, the State government has sent a team of officials to West Bengal to bring them back to Gilakaladindi. Two fishermen among the six are belonging to Gilakaladindi village and the rest are from Nellore district. “The family members of the fishermen have been informed about the status. War footing measures will be taken to bring them back to their families”, said Excise and B.C. Welfare Minister K. RavindraCarrying two siblings in her hand, Tirumani Saraswathi could not believe any sources which brought her the news that her husband T. Nagaraju and his five fellow fishermen are finally traced and safe.
However, a blur picture sent by the oast Guard rescue team has consoled her and displayed her husband on his own boat in the troubled waters.
The Coast Guard authorities have captured and released the picture soon after they rescued the crew of six fishermen of Andhra Pradesh and immediately sent it to the State authorities for identification. “My husband and others can easily be identified in the picture. The evidence has really revived our hope of seeing him again. We really indebted to the teams who traced the boat”, Ms. Saraswathi told The Hindu .
For Mr. Nagaraju, who had settled in Vijayawada city as a carpenter, it was his season’s first voyage that aims at earning a good income in short period of the four-day fishing. Mr. Nagaraju, who lost contact with his family members since June 17, was supposed to grade the fish catch in the boat. The entire village of fisher folk has started celebrating the news of the safety of their fellow villagers.
Edukondalu, brother of Mr. Nagaraju, recalled that his brother did not bother his warning to not go for fishing.
