Family members of fishermen break down following the news of their loved ones going missing in the deep sea, in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: V RAJU
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A massive multi-agency search and rescue operation has been launched in the Bay of Bengal following the disappearance of six fishermen from a mechanised vessel (INDAP-VS-MM-83) that went missing after venturing into the sea on July 1. While seven fishermen were initially on board, the boat owner-cum-driver, identified as Karri Chinna, was rescued by a passing commercial vessel on Sunday morning.
The missing crew members are reported to be Appalraju, Garagayya, K. Chinnaiah, Sithodu, Bandiyya, and Chinna Ammoru, five of them hailing from Mukkam village in Vizianagaram district, and one from Bheemunipatnam in Visakhapatnam.
According to officials, the vessel departed from the Visakhapatnam fishing harbour on July 1. The crisis came to light when the crew contacted their families on Saturday afternoon, stating they were near Gangavaram and expected to return within an hour.
Subsequent attempts to reach them failed as their mobile phones became unreachable. After waiting anxiously, the families approached the State administration around 10 P.M. on Saturday, prompting immediate government intervention.
Upon receiving the alert, MSME Minister Kondapalli Srinivas and senior officials apprised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of the situation. A rescue mission involving the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, and the Marine Police was activated through the Joint Operations Center.
An unsettling quiet pervaded Visakhapatnam’s fishing harbour on Sunday as the news of missing fishermen spreads.
| Photo Credit:
V RAJU
Ship spots crew
On Sunday morning, a Panama-flagged merchant vessel spotted the distressed fishermen and rescued Karri Chinna. A Coast Guard vessel was immediately dispatched to the merchant ship to bring him back to the shore.
The search has been intensified based on the vessel’s last known coordinates and projected drift paths. The Indian Navy deployed two helicopters and two vessels, while the Coast Guard mobilised a specialised ship from Kakinada.
Preliminary reports from the rescued owner indicate that the vessel encountered severe turbulence due to rough weather. Mr. Chinna revealed that three crew members attempted to swim toward a distant cargo ship when the boat began to founder, leading to their separation.
Intensify rescue ops: CM
Monitoring the updates closely, the Chief Minister noted that preliminary reports point toward a sudden technical malfunction or engine failure near the Gangavaram coast. This unexpected mid-sea stalling caught the crew off guard just as weather conditions deteriorated due to a low-pressure system. He directed the Marine IG to deploy every available asset until all crew members are accounted for.
YSRCP president and former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed deep anxiety and questioned the State’s automated safety mechanisms. He emphasised that the incident highlights gaps in real-time tracking and early warning dissemination for small vessels.
The Fishing Community Organisations Network (FISHCON) Executive Director Arjilli Dasu requested the district administration to expand the search radius and expedite operations using deep-sea specialised vessels.
Advisory
Meanwhile, the Fisheries Department, basing on the IMD’s weather warnings, has issued a strict advisory prohibiting fishermen from venturing into the sea due to rough conditions and high-velocity winds triggered by a low-pressure area. Search operations will continue through the night, the department officials said.
Published – July 05, 2026 08:25 pm IST
