Seven fishermen from Andhra Pradesh have gone missing at sea off the Visakhapatnam coast after being caught in rough weather triggered by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal.
The missing fishermen have been identified as Appalaraju, K. Chinnayya, Chinna, Garagayya and Seethodu from Mukkamin village in Bhogapuram mandal of Vizianagaram district; Bandiyya from Pedanagamayyapaleni in Bhimili mandal of Visakhapatnam district; and Chinnaammoru from Visakhapatnam.
According to officials, the group had ventured into the sea from the Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour on July 1. As weather conditions deteriorated due to the developing low-pressure area, their family members alerted them over the phone and urged them to return. The fishermen reportedly informed their families that they would reach the shore by Saturday afternoon.
However, when they failed to return by Saturday evening and all attempts to contact them proved unsuccessful, their anxious family members approached the authorities.
Following the alert, personnel from the Indian Coast Guard, the Indian Navy and the Marine Police launched a coordinated search operation to trace the missing fishermen.
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Agriculture and Marketing K. Atchannaidu reviewed the situation after being informed of the incident. He spoke to the District Collector and the Superintendent of Police over the phone and directed officials to intensify the search and rescue operation.
Assuring full support, the minister said the state government would stand firmly with the families of the missing fishermen and make every possible effort to ensure their safe return.
Also read: Rains cause havoc in Kerala and coastal Karnataka
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