In a coordinated effort by the maritime recce aircraft P8-I and naval ship Kalpeni, 21 fishing boats carrying over 180 fishermen were spotted by the Navy at Bassas de Pedro, a traditional fishing area off the Lakshadweep group of islands.
The aircraft had detected the boats and the vessel was directed to inspect the area, the Navy said.
Search on
“The fishermen and the boats were safe, unaffected by Ockhi, and wished to continue fishing in the area. Kalpeni, with six local fishermen embarked from Kochi, subsequently continued its guided search for missing fishing vessels for the third day off the Bitra and Androth islands,” it said.
The Southern Naval Command continued its post-Ockhi search, rescue and relief operations for the ninth day in a row over the southeast Arabian Sea and the Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands.
“The search area was extended up to the Maldives based on inputs that some Indian fishermen could be stranded there. INS Mumbai, which was on its routine operational deployment in the area, was entrusted with the additional task to carry out search off the Maldives. It has been confirmed by the ship that no Indian fishermen are stranded in the area. It has also been ascertained through official channels that no Indian fisherman has reached the Maldivian shores.”
INS Jamuna continued replenishment of fresh water in excess of 14,000 litres on Friday on Kavaratti.
INS Sharda disembarked all humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) materials at Minicoy.
Assistance was also provided by naval personnel to repair the reverse osmosis (RO) plant for generating fresh water and to repair a tug.
“Normality has almost been restored at Minicoy. A total of 83 packets of medicines were supplied to the Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands till now through INS Shardul, Jamuna, Sharda, and Trikand. A total of 8,800 kg of foodgrains, 7,700 litres of mineral water, 25 tonnes of fresh water, and clothing for 1,500 people have been supplied as part of HADR materials till date,” the Navy release said.
