Cyclone Asani: 11 fishermen airlifted to safety after being stranded in Bay of Bengal
India Today
The Indian Coast Guard airlifted 11 fishermen, who were stranded in Bay of Bengal, to safety. The fishermen were rescued from a boat off Odisha Coast near Sonapur.
The Indian Coast Guard, in a swift and deftly coordinated operation, rescued 11 fishermen who were stranded in Bay of Bengal amid Cyclone Asani. The fishermen were rescued from a boat off Odisha Coast near Sonapur on Monday.
At around 3 pm, the Indian Coast Guard Station at Gopalpur received information from Ganjam District Collector regarding 11 fishermen stranded onboard a small dinghy in the cyclonic weather.
The said boat belongs to a resident of Sonapur who was returning from Visakhapatnam along with ten other fishermen. The boat was stuck in cyclonic winds and suffered an engine failure.
As per the statement of rescued fishermen, the boat was taking in water due to very high swell, cyclonic winds and very rough seas and all the crew onboard feared for their lives.
In a swift response, Indian Coast Guard immediately launched its most advanced helicopter ALH MK III from Coast Guard Air Enclave, Bhubaneswar for the rescue of stranded fishermen. All fishermen were safely airlifted.
Indian Coast Guard has been working in close coordination with civil administration of states of Odisha and West Bengal to ensure no loss of life at sea during impending weather owing to Cyclone Asani.
Coast Guard ships on patrol and aircraft on surveillance have been broadcasting weather warnings to fishermen and mariners at sea.
