The Hindu Business Line : 3 fishermen missing in Vizag boat tragedy

THREE fishermen of the six-member crew of a mechanised fishing boat were missing since Thursday night, as the boat was involved in an accident in the vicinity of the fishing harbour here.

The survivors narrated the accident in which Kuramdas Chinna Rao of Jabbarthota, Doni Yella Rao of Chapala Dibbalapalem, near Bheemunipatnam, and Garikina Appanna of Jalaripeta were lost. They are feared dead.

The boat was completely damaged as a part of it was caught in the boulders of the breakwaters wall near the Outer Harbour.

``Six of us went fishing on Thursday evening, and as the sea was rough we decided to return. As we headed towards the fishing harbour, the steering rope snapped and the boat went adrift. Since the breakwaters wall was only 100 metres away, five of us jumped into water to swim ashore, while one remained in the boat. However, only we two could reach the shore around 11 p.m. and the other three gave up as they could not swim in the rough waters,'' said Kuramdas Narasimha of Jalaripeta and Chinamana Kannayya of Gollaveedhi.

Surakala Appanna of Jalaripeta, who remained in the boat, jumped onto the rocks as soon as the boat hit the breakwaters wall and hung on to the rocks. He shouted at the top of his voice and lit matches from the matchbox he was carrying to draw the attention of the CISF personnel on duty at the Port Control Point.

``CISF constables finally noticed me and alerted the nearby fishermen who rushed to save me with the help of catamarans,'' Appanna said.

The survivors alerted the AP Mechanised Fishing Boat Operators' Welfare Association and the Fisheries Department.

The chances of survival of the missing crewmembers were remote considering the rough condition of the sea, said the local fishermen.

The survivors said they did not carry safety equipment like life-jackets since they were going on a "single'' voyage (meaning 24-hour trip).

It was also learnt that the fishing boats, woefully short of remunerative quantity of catch, were venturing into the sea in spite of rough weather to get as much catch as possible. Also this was the season when the brooder prawns were available. Brooder prawns fetch good price, though it was not as high as it was in the past.