After nearly two hours swimming through turbulent waters in the Bay of Bengal, the operator of a missing fishing boat reached a merchant vessel. Its crew rescued him and notified authorities while the search continued Tuesday for six other missing fishermen.
Rescue teams praised the bravery of the boat’s owner and driver. He swam through rough seas after the vessel capsized off the Visakhapatnam coast on July 4.
According to a senior police official in charge of coastal security, the man spotted the lights of a Panama-flagged merchant ship, shouted for help, and was taken aboard. A navy helicopter later airlifted him to a naval base in Visakhapatnam on Monday evening.
The fisherman was then moved to a hospital in Gajuwaka for observation. Officials said he remained stable after medical checks.
The district collector described an emotional reunion with his family at the hospital. All six missing fishermen are relatives, including his elder brother, nephews and cousins.
The man told rescuers the boat drifted, began taking water and eventually overturned. The six others stayed with the vessel briefly before swimming toward what they thought was the shore. He became separated while heading toward ship lights.
Search operations involve two coast guard ships, two navy vessels, a Dornier aircraft and helicopters. Electronic surveillance continues from the coast guard station in Visakhapatnam.
The boat left Visakhapatnam harbour on July 1 and suffered mechanical failure off the Gannavaram coast. Adverse weather, strong winds and high waves caused it to drift and take on water.
Officials noted waves up to four metres and winds around 50 knots hampered efforts. Operations will continue until the missing men are found. Relief measures for families are underway.
In a separate incident, 20 fishermen on another mechanised boat were rescued after engine trouble in rough weather. Coastal security police, the coast guard and Odisha marine police located the vessel, transferred the crew and began towing it toward the Odisha coast.
