Six Andhra fishermen missing at sea for over 15 days, search operation launched

Six fishermen who ventured into the Bay of Bengal for deep-sea fishing from the Fish Landing Centre Jetty at Odalarevu in Konaseema district have gone missing after their boat failed to return even 15 days after departure, marine police said on Monday, August 17.

The diesel fishing boat, owned by Kopanathi Ramakrishna Varma, had set out from the jetty at around 10 am on August 3 for fishing operations in the Bay of Bengal.

"Six fishermen who ventured into the Bay of Bengal for fishing operations from the Fish Landing Centre Jetty at Odalarevu in Allavaram mandal of Konaseema district have gone missing after their boat failed to return even after 15 days," a marine police official told PTI.

According to the official, the fishermen had informed their relatives before departure that they were carrying provisions and cooking utensils sufficient for about 15 days and were expected to return within 10 days. However, they have not returned even after 15 days, he said.

The search operation has been complicated by the absence of a satellite phone on board and a reportedly malfunctioning GPS unit, making it difficult for authorities to determine the boat's exact location, the official said.

Following the loss of communication, the Coast Guard and Navy were alerted and search operations were launched. The Coast Guard is also monitoring vessels operating in the sea in an effort to identify the missing boat, according to the official.

He added that since the fishermen were travelling alone unlike the usual practice of boats operating in close proximity to one another there has been no communication with or sighting of them by nearby fishing boats.