The Indian Coast Guard has rescued eight fishermen from choppy waters in the Bay of Bengal in a coordinated sea-air search and rescue operation, a Defence official said here Sunday.
The ICG rescued the eight fishermen and their boat "Yohana Devudu" which got stranded off Odisha coast and brought them back safely to Paradip port.
The boat ventured into sea on June 21 for fishing, but lost contact with its owner since June 26.
The matter was reported to Odisha state fisheries officials, who in turn intimated the ICG on July 5 for locating the missing boat with non-operational engine and rudder, the official said.
Maritime Rescue Sub Centre, Paradip, on receipt of information sailed out ICGS Sarojini Naidu on July 6. A Coast Guard Dornier aircraft also flew in a sea-air coordinated search operation.
Locating the drifting boat, the ICG ship established communication with the boat master on July 6 evening and the distressed fishermen in the boat were provided with food, drinking water and medicines.
The official said with the prevailing sea condition being bad, accompanied by heavy swell and strong winds, ICGS Sarojini Naidu towed the boat and reached Paradip Harbour on Sunday morning.
On arrival, all the fishermen were medically examined and reported to be in healthy condition, the official said.
13-member fishing boat rescued
New Delhi/Kolkata: In a coordinated operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and its Bangladesh counterpart rescued 13 crew members on board an Indian fishing boat amidst very rough sea conditions and inclement weather, the Indian Maritime Security Agency said Saturday.
The ICG said the Indian Coast Guard Regional Headquarters at Kolkata received a telephonic message from Assistant Director (Fisheries), Diamond Harbour regarding distress on board Indian fishing boat 'Tara Shankar' with 13 crew from Kakdwip in West Bengal.
The Indian Coast Guard immediately contacted the Bangladesh Coast Guard West Zone Headquarters at Mongla and requested them to rescue the Indian fishing boat.
One Bangladesh Naval ship on patrol was diverted and one Bangladesh Coast Guard ship sailed from the Mongla harbour for search and rescue. The Bangladesh Navy ship located the Indian disabled boat with 13 crew on board near the Mongla Fairway Buoy and rescued it and the crew members Saturday evening.
"Despite very high sea conditions (against 5-6 metres of swell), the Bangladesh Naval ship took the Indian disabled boat under tow and brought to Pussur River mouth (approximately 60 nautical miles Eastward from International Maritime Boundary Line), where another about 100 Indian fishing boats were also sighted. These Indian fishing boats had taken shelter in view of the rough seas and inclement weather," the Indian Coast Guard said in a statement.
As sea was rough, all the Indian fishing boats, including the disabled boat under tow, were guided by the Bangladesh Naval ship for taking passage through riverine or coastal route Westward up to the Haribhanga river.
The operation could be executed in view of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Indian Coast Guard and the Bangladesh Coast Guard, the statement said.
"This prompt cooperation of Bangladesh Maritime Forces amidst heavy seas and severe weather conditions is the testimony of our friendly and trusted relationship between coast guards of the two neighbouring countries," it added.
