Paradip: Two mechanised fishing boats (Registration Nos. IND-OR-04-MM-26 and IND-OR- 04-MM-314) with two crew and 11 fishermen have gone missing at sea when they were going from Paradip to North 88 nautical miles on Sunday.
In a letter (Memo No. 158/dated 15.01.2023) to the Commandant of the Indian Coast Guard, Paradip, seeking help to trace the missing boats and rescue the fishermen, the Additional Fisheries Officer (Marine) at Kujang stated that the owners of the two boats have lodged complaints with them regarding the boats going missing at sea along with 11 fishermen and two drivers. “As the mobile phones of the fishermen and the drivers are switched off, the officials are unable to establish communication with them,” the letter read.
According to the letter, the owner of the boat (IND-OR-04-MM-26) K Kondala Rao stated that seven persons, including, the driver Ashok Mirdha, were present on the motorised boat when it went missing in the sea. Similarly, the owner of the boat (IND-OR- 04-MM-314) Sasmita Baral said that six persons, including driver Ajay Nayak, were on her boat when it went missing.
Consequently, the Additional Fisheries Officer (Marine) at Kujang has urged the Coast Guard to search the two missing boats and rescue the fishermen.
