One missing as boat capsizes in Bay of Bengal

Srikakulam: A fisherman went missing when a mechanised boat capsized at Guppedupeta village limits in the Bay of Bengal in Polaki mandal in Srikakulam district in the early of Saturday. Eight fishermen went into the sea for fishing 10 days ago in a boat from Visakhapatnam fishing harbour to Paradeep.

All the fishermen hailing from Mukham village in Pusapatirega mandal of Vizianagaram district. In the wake of cyclone warning, they were returning to their village when they reached Guppedupeta limits, boat was tilted in the sea water due to high tides capsized. Three fishermen out of eight, who boarded the boat, Barri Ammoru, Barri Yerrayya and Ganagalla Thatayya reached the shore near Umilada on their own by swimming in the sea water. After reaching the shore, they collapsed. Locals admitted them to Guppedupeta primary health centre for treatment. Later, they were shifted to RIMS Hospital in Srikakulam.

Based on information given by three fishermen, police, revenue, and fire department officials, along with expert swimmers, rushed to the spot and rescued four fishermen Barri Thatayya, Barri Massenu (driver of the boat), Vasupalli Narasimha and Govinda Appanna, while another fisherman Mylapalli Srinu was missing and search operations continued till Saturday evening but were halted due to high tides. Tekkali RDO M Venkateswara Rao, fisheries joint director VV Krishna Murthy supervised the rescue operations.