Intensified Search Underway For Missing Amalapuram Fishermen: Minister Atchannaidu

Search operations have been intensified for seven fishermen from the Amalapuram area of Konaseema district who have been missing at sea, Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu said on Tuesday.

The minister said the search is being conducted on a large scale with the support of the Centre, with the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Navy and other agencies working in coordination to trace the fishermen and bring them back safely.

The operation was stepped up after Amalapuram MP Harish Balayogi met the Union Defence Minister on Tuesday and discussed the ongoing search efforts. Following the meeting, the Defence Ministry directed the Coast Guard to intensify its operations. The ICG headquarters has also involved its Eastern and North-Eastern commands based in Kolkata in the search, Atchannaidu said.

To widen the search area, 15 Coast Guard vessels and four helicopters operating in nearby waters were deployed on Tuesday. Electronic surveillance is also being carried out under the supervision of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC).

Authorities are also exploring the possibility that the missing fishing boat may have drifted into foreign waters. Information has consequently been shared with maritime authorities in Myanmar and Bangladesh so that the search can be extended if required.

Officials are examining several possibilities, including the prospect of an engine failure leaving the boat stranded somewhere at sea. Search teams are taking into account ocean currents, wind direction and speed, weather conditions and the fishermen’s usual fishing routes while determining the areas to be covered.

The search has also been expanded towards Diamond Harbour, the Sundarbans and surrounding maritime areas, the minister said.

The fishermen had reportedly ventured into the sea on August 3 but had not returned by August 13, prompting their families to raise the alarm and authorities to treat them as missing.

Atchannaidu said the state government was closely monitoring developments and coordinating continuously with central agencies. He assured the families that every available option was being used to locate the fishermen and urged them to remain hopeful while the search continues.