TV
A fishing boat carrying seven fishermen capsized early Thursday morning off the Podampeta coast in Ganjam district.
According to the latest reports, six of them managed to swim to safety while one fisherman, identified as A Kaleya from San Nolia Nuagaon under Chhatrapur block, remains missing.
A rescue and search operation by the Indian Coast Guard and local officials is currently underway.
Sources stated that the group ventured into the sea around 4 am for fishing. However, as they approached the waters near Podampeta, their boat lost balance and overturned, throwing all seven occupants into the sea. Though six fishermen swam back to the boat and survived, Kaleya could not make it out.
Administrative Response
Local residents rushed to assist in the rescue, but despite extensive efforts, no trace of the missing fisherman has been found so far.
The incident has sparked concern in the fishing community, which frequently braves rough seas to sustain livelihoods. Chhatrapur MLA Krushnachandra Nayak visited the site and interacted with residents, assuring that the administration is actively engaged in the rescue mission.
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Continuing Search
Marine police and local volunteers remain deployed in the affected waters, combing the area in hopes of finding the missing fisherman. Officials have urged coastal villagers to extend cooperation as the operation continues.
Notably, the incident comes amid the IMD issuing repeated warnings for strong wind gusts and heavy rainfall in southern Odisha. A low pressure over the Bay of Bengal has intensified rough waves on the sea, and fishermen have been advised to stay away from the water under the weather conditions improve.
