With cyclone ‘Asani’ moving closer to Odisha coasts, 60 fishermen had a narrow escape after their boats capsized in the rough sea at Aryapalli near Chhatrapur of Ganjam on Tuesday.
As per reports, the fishermen from Sanaryapalli, Bada Aryapalli and Golabandha areas were returning to the coast in their six fishing vessels. However, the boats sank after being caught in the rough sea conditions at Aryapalli.
Somehow, all the fishermen managed to save their lives by swimming to the shore. They had to struggle hard and swim over one hour to reach the shore. All the fishing vessels, fishes and nets of the fishermen were washed away in the turbulent water. They could manage to reach the shore as the place where their vessels were stuck in the sea was not too far away from the shore.
As per reports, the fishermen had ventured into the sea despite warning issued in view of the severe cyclonic storm Asani. However, the fishermen claimed that they had gone for fishing into the sea before the government warning was issued.
A day before, 11 fishermen had a providential escape after being caught in the rough sea near Sunapur off Ganjam coast. They were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard from their boat, which broke down mid-sea.
(Edited by Ramakant Biswas)