Search on for missing fishermen

Visakhapatnam: A pall of gloom descended on Jalaripeta with the missing of two fishermen on Wednesday. Coast Guard launched the search operation to trace the missing fishermen on Thursday but in vain.

The body of Pola Raju was found by the rescue team while two others Tedu Parasayya (35) and Tedu Pentayya (45) are still missing and efforts intensified to locate them.

According to an eye witness, Pentayya and Demudu Babu, who survived from the incident, said that 500 fishermen from various parts of Visakhapatnam ventured into the sea at 4 am on Tuesday about 100 catamarans and country boats for fishing. But their hopes dashed as weather played spoilsport at around 9.40 am on Tuesday.

“It was a clear day with sunshine. But the sky suddenly turned dark and it started pouring heavily. This apart, lightning struck. The colour of the sea resembled the sky, and it turned rough in no time.

After a thunder bolt struck the country boat of Pola Rao, who was sailing with four others, in a jolt all of them fallen into the sea. While others could get back into the boat, Pola Rao could not as he was injured. His body was fished out later. Three others suffered burns injuries but managed to reach the boats,” recalled one of the survivors.

In-Charge Collector G Srijana directed the city police, marine police and the Coast Guard to intensify the search to trace the missing persons. Veera Raju, a diver, who is also part of rescue team, said that due to unfavourable conditions in the sea, the search could not be continued.