NAGERCOIL
A team of Vallavilai fishermen, which had ventured into sea from Kochi in eight mechanised boats in search of missing fishermen post-Cyclone Ockhi, has rescued 47 fishermen in four mechanised boats from the high seas.
The rescued fishermen had gone for month-long deep sea fishing from Vallavilai on November 24 in four mechanised boats. As the cyclone and rough sea collectively triggered technical snag in the engines, they were stranded in mid sea for the past 20 days.
After the reported searches by Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard in deep seas failed to yield any result, the Vallavilai fishermen formed different teams to search for the missing colleagues from their base at Kochi fishing harbour.
Subsequently, eight mechanised boats were pressed into service and their searches led to the rescue of 47 fishermen with their boats.
“Since the engines’ technical snags triggered by inclement weather and rough sea left the boats stranded, the fishermen could not sail towards the shore. Though the Indian Navy and ICG boats are reportedly searching for missing fishermen, only our people have rescued the stranded fishermen from the jaws of death. A bus has been sent to Kochi to bring the rescued fishermen to Vallavilai and other nearby villages,” said C. Berlin of Kurumpanai.
