CG turns a ray of hope for fishermen in distress

S Vishnu Sharmaa, INN/Chennai, @Svs037

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) always offers a helping hand to fishermen in distress. The recent happening in Tamilnadu bore a testimony to this. Thanks to ICG, eight fishermen in distress were rescued across International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) recently. According to sources, ICG received a signal of distress from state officials for search and rescue of stranded fishing boat with eight crew members at 7.00 am on June 19.

The crew was reportedly stranded at Seventh Island on IMBL. ICG unit at Mandapam in Tamilnadu sent two hovercrafts for the rescue of the fishermen. The vallam was found stranded 1.5 Nautical miles across IMBL in  Sri Lankan waters. 

The boat with crew was being apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy. Hovercraft of ICG communicated with Sri Lankan Navy ship with help of Very High Frequency (VHF) and requested for release of the boat as it had drifted post distress.

Mandapam unit of ICG also took up the case with Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka through Regional Headquarters, Chennai and Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Chennai for immediate release of stranded crew. 

Thereafter, Sri Lankan Navy handed over the crew to the ICG hovercraft which brought them back safely to Mandapam. On completion of medical examination the fishermen were handed over to state officials.