Four Tamil Nadu fishermen have been found dead after their boat capsized off the Andhra Pradesh coast during Cyclone Murasu, while search operations continue for five others, Prakasam District Collector P Raja Babu said on Thursday.
The boat was swept ashore at Kothapatnam coast in Prakasam district, where local fishermen found three bodies inside the vessel and alerted the police and marine personnel. A fourth body was recovered separately during search operations, according to the Collector. The bodies were being sent to RIMS hospital for postmortem and would be handed over to Tamil Nadu officials after the required formalities.
The nine fishermen had been identified, and their names and photographs were shared by the Tamil Nadu government, Babu said. He added that he had spoken to Tamil Nadu officials, who were travelling to Andhra Pradesh in connection with the recovery and identification process.
According to the Collector, the fishermen had set out to sea from Chennai on October 29 and had been advised to move their boats to safe locations as Cyclone Murasu approached. Four boats were anchored along the Andhra Pradesh coast, including three at Ramayapatnam Port and one at Nizampatnam Port.
Babu said that nine fishermen aboard the boat at Nizampatnam began moving towards Ramayapatnam on November 3 to join the other fishermen. The movement was not reported to either the Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu authorities, he said. The boat encountered the cyclone while proceeding towards Ramayapatnam amid strong winds and subsequently capsized.
Officials believe the vessel may have overturned because of the powerful waves generated by the cyclone. Local fishermen estimated from the size of the boat that around 15 people may have been aboard, but the Collector’s account identified nine missing fishermen from the vessel. The difference between the local estimate and the official figure had not been explained in the supplied information.
The Coast Guard was alerted and asked to launch rescue operations after the incident. Kothapatnam police and marine officers inspected the boat after it reached the shore, while arrangements were made for the postmortem examinations. Police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances of the incident.
Search operations will continue for the remaining five fishermen, the Collector said. The recovered bodies will be released to Tamil Nadu officials after completion of the necessary legal and medical procedures.
