Port Blair: A swift and well-coordinated search and rescue operation by the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard under the Andaman & Nicobar Command saved the lives of two fishermen whose boat drifted helplessly in rough seas for nearly three days after suffering an engine failure, highlighting the crucial role of maritime surveillance and emergency response systems in the island territory.
The rescued fishermen, identified as Amarendra Halder (34) and Parimal Rai (40), were safely brought ashore after their Andaman & Nicobar-registered fishing boat DEEP (IND-AN-SA-MO-178) was located about 50 nautical miles south-east of Sri Vijaya Puram.
According to official sources, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at the Indian Coast Guard Regional Headquarters (A&N), Sri Vijaya Puram, received a distress alert from the vessel on July 13 through its onboard Distress Alert Transmitter (DAT).
The fishing boat had departed from the Deepika Nandapur Fish Landing Centre at Hut Bay at around 10 a.m. on July 10 with the two fishermen onboard for a routine fishing expedition. Soon after putting out to sea, the vessel developed a complete engine failure, leaving it without propulsion and at the mercy of heavy swells, strong winds and rough weather.
Acting promptly on the distress signal, the Andaman & Nicobar Command launched a joint Search and Rescue (SAR) operation, deploying Indian Navy aircraft and the Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Rajveer. Despite challenging sea conditions, the stranded boat was successfully located at around 2 p.m. on July 13.
The Coast Guard personnel rescued both fishermen, provided them with first aid and conducted a medical assessment onboard. Officials said the fishermen were found to be in stable condition and were later handed over to the concerned authorities at Sri Vijaya Puram after being brought safely ashore.
The successful operation once again underscored the effectiveness of the coordinated maritime rescue framework in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the vital importance of equipping fishing vessels with Distress Alert Transmitters, which proved instrumental in saving two lives at sea.
