Kerala Coastal Police Step Up Hunt for Fisherman Missing Since July 31 Boat Accident

The Coastal Police on Friday intensified the search operation for a 26-year-old fisherman who went missing after a fishing boat capsized near Puthenthura in Kollam on July 31. Additional boats and personnel have been deployed to locate Gautam Krishna, officials said.

Officials at the Neendakara Coastal Police Station confirmed that search teams have expanded the operation across a wider stretch of the sea. The move came after Gautam’s mother met senior officials from the Fisheries Department and Coastal Police at the Kollam Coastal Police Station, raising concerns over the pace and methods of the search.

Following the meeting, she said officials informed her that some search techniques had not been adopted earlier as they had not been requested by the family. However, authorities assured that additional measures would now be implemented.

The search efforts were further stepped up after the intervention of Union Minister Suresh Gopi and the Fisheries Minister. The Coastal Police and Fisheries Department have decided to deploy more resources, including boats and personnel, to cover a larger search area.

Gautam Krishna was among a 14-member fishing group that had ventured into the sea from Puthenthura on July 31. While returning, the boat was caught in high waves near the estuary and overturned. Gautam’s father Radhakrishnan (48) and grandfather Rajeevan (74) died in the accident.

Meanwhile, a separate search operation is continuing off the Thiruvananthapuram coast for John (54) of Pulluvila, who went missing in another boat mishap on the same day. The Vizhinjam Coastal Police are leading the search.

John’s family recently staged a protest outside the Vizhinjam Coastal Police Station, alleging that the rescue operation was not being carried out effectively. They have demanded that experienced fishermen with knowledge of local sea conditions be included in search operations following such maritime accidents.