The Odisha police rescued many fishermen of Andhra Pradesh who had been caught in the storm while catching fishing in the sea off Gopalpur on Wednesday night.
“About 150 fishermen along with 35 trawlers stayed in the sea near Gopalpur. In spite of persuasion, they did not come to the shore. When cyclonic storm ‘Titli’ intensified, they requested the police for their rescue. A team began an operation in the midnight and rescued 26 of them. The operation was on for safe evacuation of other fishermen,” said an official release.
DIGP, district Collector and SP of Ganjam rushed to the spot in the midnight to rescue them.
However, they were stuck for some time as the road was blocked due to a broken tree. As they reached, NDRF and ODRAF teams under the leadership of Coast Guard started rescue operation in the midnight. By morning, 26 fishermen were rescued and the operation was on for safe evacuation of rest of the fishermen.