PUDUKKOTTAI: It was a near-death experience for nine fishermen from Pudukkottai, who were stranded mid-sea after their two mechanised boats sank on Sunday. Luckily, another group of fishermen rescued them in the wee hours.
Sources said, five fishermen from Jegathapattinam ventured into the sea in a boat owned by Rajagopal while four others went for fishing in a boat belonging to Senthilkumar of the same fishing hamlet.
They were stationed about 20 nautical miles south off Jegathapattinam jetty for deep sea fishing when the boats collided all of a sudden due to strong winds. Both the boats suffered damages in the hull and began to sink.
Sensing trouble, those on the boats send an ‘SOS’ message to fellow fishermen. After getting the message, a group of fishermen in another boat rushed to the spot and rescued the stranded fishermen.
The rescued fishermen reached Jegathapattinam on Sunday morning.
They were identified as Dhandayuthapani, Kalaimani, Raman, Arumugam, Senthilkumar, Ramu, Sakthivel, Selvam and Sekar.
After getting information, a team of marine police rushed to Jegathapattinam jetty and conducted investigations with the rescued fishermen.