A joint search operation by teams of ONGC and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) brought good news for the families of nearly 120 fishermen of Dummulapeta and Parlopeta villages near Kakinada on Saturday.
There was no trace of the fishermen who ventured into the sea in 25 boats on June 17 but they were eventually found stranded at Hope Island and moved to safety on Saturday evening.
Minister’s initiative
It was after Social Welfare Minister Ravela Kishore Babu sought the help of ONGC and RIL that things started moving.
Officials and families of fishermen heaved a sigh of relief as the search ended on a positive note.
The two oil companies have joined together and sent a helicopter on an aerial survey, which located the fishermen towards evening and air-lifted them to safety.
Meanwhile, six fishermen who ventured into Bay of Bengal on Monday night on a mechanised boat for fishing went missing off the Machilipatnam coast in Krishna district.
Coast Guard informed
“The Coast Guard authorities have been informed about the missing of the boat on Saturday and a search operation by the Coast Guard is launched,” Excise and B.C. Welfare Minister K. Ravindra told The Hindu .
The boat with registered number 1641 lost its way on Wednesday evening reportedly after a snag in its propellers.
According to marine police, three of the fishermen were identified as T. Nagaraju and S. Naguru of Gilakaladindi village in Krishna district and K. Chittibabu.
Case registered
The marine police have registered a case based on a complaint lodged by the boat owner V. Vasantha Rao.
“The boatmen could not be contacted on telephone since Wednesday night. We are in touch with the officials of Coast Guard and Eastern Naval Command”, Fisheries Department Deputy Director P. Jaya Rao said.
Officials and families of fishermen heaved a sigh of relief as the search ended on a positive note
