Chennai, Nov 7 Out of nine missing Tamil Nadu fishermen, seven bodies have been recovered and the search for the remaining two is in progress, the ICG said here on Saturday.
Detailing the search efforts, the Indian Coast Guard said the persistent and continuous search resulted in the sighting of the green hull of the submerged boat on Nov 5, which was the missing boat from Chennai, ‘Sri Sengalamman.’
The ICG ship also sighted two bodies in the vicinity of the submerged boat and subsequently recovered them from the sea. Meanwhile, authorities at Kothapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) reported sighting five more bodies on the same day, which were washed ashore.
“Out of nine missing fishermen, seven bodies have been recovered and search for the remaining two fishermen is in progress by ICG. The present incident once again underscores the grave risks associated with venturing into the sea during cyclonic conditions, disregarding prevailing weather advisories,” the ICG said in a press release.
To prevent such mishaps in future, the fishing community, boat owners and fishermen associations should strictly adhere to weather warnings issued by authorities/ICG and refrain from engaging in fishing during cyclones and adverse weather conditions, the Coast Guard appealed.
Giving a detailed background to the incident, the Coast Guard said it had issued numerous weather advisories cautioning the fishing community against venturing into the sea in view of the cyclonic storms Arnab and Murasu.
ICG ships and aircraft were deployed at sea, and the Coastal Radar Chain actively engaged in transmitting warnings to those fishermen who were at sea.
As per the information from Tamil Nadu state authorities, fishing boat Sri Sengalamman with nine crew onboard left Chennai fishing harbour on Oct 29, 2026, post landfall of Cyclone Arnab and thereafter had taken shelter at Nizampatnam in Andhra Pradesh due to warnings for the next cyclone, ‘Murasu.’
Despite the warnings and associated risks, the Chennai boat reportedly ventured out to sea during the peak of the cyclonic disturbance from Nizampatnam on the night of Nov 2, 2026, when Cyclone ‘Murasu’ was actually crossing the coast, resulting in extremely adverse sea and weather conditions.
The lesser winds could have been mistaken by the crew as the cyclone had passed.
However, the rear end of the cyclone was yet to arrive at that time, the CG said.
The first report was received by ICG at about 12 PM on November 3, and within a couple of hours, a search aircraft was airborne from the nearest base at Chennai.
Coast Guard ship based at the nearest port, Krishnapatnam, was also deployed at the earliest despite post-cyclonic conditions on the same day.
ICG aircraft was deployed for aerial search in coordination with ICG Ships on Nov 3, 4 and 5 for a thorough search.
ICG said: “The case once again highlights that despite adverse conditions and at the cost of risking their own lives, Indian Coast Guard remains committed to extending all possible assistance and undertaking sustained SAR efforts for our fishermen community”.
(PTI News)
