TV
A fishing expedition turned into a survival battle after a motorised fishing boat carrying four fishermen sank off the Chudamani coast in Bhadrak district. The vessel had reportedly sailed out on August 21 from Chudamani fishing harbour under Basudevpur block but never returned.
According to locals, the boat developed a mechanical fault while at sea and was left adrift. For nearly three days, the fishermen attempted to control the vessel with its sail, but the situation worsened as the boat drifted further into the Bay of Bengal.
Boat Breaks Apart, Crew Left Stranded
Reports stated that on August 24, the boat broke apart and eventually sank. With no option left, the four fishermen clung to floats and other makeshift supports to stay above water. Stranded in the open sea, they endured hunger, exhaustion, and the constant struggle to keep themselves afloat.
The crew survived for days in the rough waters, taking turns holding onto drifting support and pushing toward the shoreline, as per one of the survivors, Pabanna Mallick.
“We were fishing and had cast a net. Suddenly, the motor stopped working. Despite repeated attempts, it failed to start. We dropped the anchor, but it was ripped away in the strong ocean currents,” added Mallick.
ALSO READ: Fishing boat carrying 7 people capsizes off Ganjam coast in Odisha, search and rescue ops on
Survival Swim Ends Near Sunamuhin
After nearly five days of being stranded, the fishermen managed to swim ashore near the Sunamuhin forest in Nayagarh district on the night of August 27. Exhausted but alive, they were rescued by locals and immediately shifted to the Basudevpur Medical Centre.
Doctors confirmed their condition was stable, and the men were discharged after treatment. The boat owner, Natabar Mallick, said the mishap occurred after an unexpected mechanical breakdown left the vessel without power, eventually leading to its sinking.
