Seven fishermen rescued after 22 days adrift in Bay of Bengal

Fishing trip turns 22-day saga of survival

Seven fishermen from Andhra Pradesh's Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district were rescued near Shankarpur fishing harbour in West Bengal on August 26, 2026, after spending 22 days adrift in the Bay of Bengal when their boat engine failed just three days into what was meant to be a fortnight-long tuna fishing expedition.

Koppanathi Ramakrishna, 49, and his six-member crew had set sail from Odalarevu fish landing point at around 9 a.m. on August 3, 2026, equipped with four tonnes of ice, 1,000 litres of diesel, two tonnes of water, and supplies for 15 days. For Ramakrishna, a fisherman accustomed only to the waters of the Vynateya river, it was his first deep-sea voyage, a venture prompted by India's surging tuna exports, which reached 51,626 tonnes worth $87.96 million in 2023-24, a 31.83% increase from the previous year.

Engine failure in open waters

The crew cast their gill nets nearly 60 nautical miles parallel to the coast on the third night, but caught nothing. "Suddenly, we noticed an unusual sound from the clutch plates, causing the boat engine to fall silent," said crew member Palepu Santa Rao. They contacted their families for the last time on August 5 before the engine failed. Unable to control their course, the crew raised canvas sails to navigate toward the coast, following wind direction.

By August 7, winds had driven the boat nearly 200 nautical miles from Visakhapatnam. "We saw one giant fish, believed to be a whale, that came close to our boat. It could have overturned our boat," recalled Ramakrishna and driver Kollati Srinubabu. At night, Ramakrishna stayed awake holding a light to signal their presence and avoid collision with large vessels.

Missed rescues and dwindling supplies

At 116 nautical miles from Paradeep, a defence or Coast Guard helicopter flashed a light on their boat during the night, but proceeded without making contact. Near Astaranga Beach in Odisha's Puri district on August 20, two fishing boats gave them a helpline number but left without hearing their ordeal; the crew could not reach the number due to lack of signals.

"All our food stock was gone by August 22. The leftover ice had melted for drinking and cooking, and we barely caught 14 fish, which we boiled before eating," said Srinubabu. Only 60-year-old Sangani Tata Rao, who has a history of low blood pressure, showed signs of health issues.

Massive search operation

Families contacted District Collector R. Mahesh Kumar, prompting Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to order a search operation involving the Eastern Naval Command and Indian Coast Guard. At least 15 Coast Guard vessels and four helicopters were deployed, with electronic surveillance conducted by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre and alerts sent to Myanmar and Bangladesh maritime authorities, State Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu revealed on August 19. The search covered up to 300 nautical miles, beyond India's 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

In Odalarevu, Kameswari, 34, wife of crew member Srinubabu, spent her days at temples praying for her husband's return while their two children played on the riverbank, unaware of the crisis. "Our hope for the survival of the crew faded as we heard no signs of the missing boat. By August 25, the government stated that the operation was ongoing, but there was no progress," said Kameswari, whose family lives in a rented house and survives on river fishing.

Rescue and return

Two fishing boats sighted the disabled vessel 16 kilometres from Shankarpur fishing harbour near Digha port in West Bengal's Purba Medinipur on August 26. The crew of one boat rescued the fishermen, fed them, and brought them to Shankarpur harbour. Ramakrishna called his brother Venkat to spread the news. Collector Mahesh Kumar sent a team to bring them back, and the fishermen were kept under medical observation for one day in West Bengal.

The entire journey, challenges, and survival strategies have been recorded to formulate a rescue plan to save more lives in the future, the Collector added. The seven fishermen visited homes to thank families and villagers who prayed for their return, and offered special prayers to local deities.

Ramakrishna, survived by his wife, daughter, and son, has decided to quit deep-sea fishing. "If we had not returned, I would have been blamed for the loss of the lives of my crew for the rest of my life," he said. His boat remains anchored on the West Bengal coast. "Our survival was the wish of God," he said.

Source: The Hindu