VISAKHAPATNAM : The fishing season this year began on a miraculous note. It was a voyage for livelihood the men were prepared for any eventuality. But the fishermen from Kakinada who arrived on the shores of Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts since having gone missing since Thursday, were unprepared for this turbulent experience, and a close shave with death. Back from an ordeal that lasted for over four days, they remain extremely exhausted, but incredibly thankful.
Following the end of two-month ban on fishing, over 190 fishermen from East Godavari district commenced their journey into the Bay of Bengal during the midnight of June 16 and 17. Around 33 boats sailed out from the Kakinada fishing harbour.
“The sea was rough but we had no trouble venturing out. Over the next 24 hours, we went ahead with our fishing activity and sailed up to 100 miles deep into the sea before it turned violent,” said Malli Apparao, a fisherman from Uppada in East Godavari whose boat drifted ashore near Visakhapatnam. Five boats belonging to Kakinada and carrying 30 fishermen, arrived at Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour since Sunday night. Except for one boat, all others returned to Kakinada after undergoing minor repairs and refilling fuel and essential commodities.
Since Thursday, the fishermen spent their lives in rough weather and of course, praying to God to send them home safely. Due to the high tides, rain and fierce gales, most of the motorised fishing boats suffered damage and had no option but to let the boats take their own course.
“While a major part of the essential commodities, diesel and other supplies that we took for a voyage of two weeks got wasted due to the boats’ movement, we survived on the remaining portions. Our struggle to keep the boat sailing, on the move, was very exhausting,” recalled Nookaraju, whose boat drifted to Bhavanapadu in Srikakulam district due to the heavy winds after the fuel was exhausted. He compared his experience of the last four days as “hellish”.
In all, one boat each drifted to Bhavanapadu and Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam district. While the one at Bhavanapadu had no fuel, the boat that arrived at Kalingapatnam had a partially damaged motor. Most of the boats suffered either due to diesel problems or damage to motors besides losing GPS connectivity and thus could not contact the coast or return home.
“We spent the last four days in fear, particularly during nights as the sea was very violent. It was raining heavily and gales pushed the boats in different directions. But at the same time, if not for the severe winds, we might have been forced to spend another couple of days at sea till the officials rescued us,” said A Srinu, one of the fishermen who arrived in Visakhapatnam. He was anxious to know about the fate of his friends and relatives who are missing in the sea.
Due to disruption of communication, the fishermen were unaware of the weather and had to travel in different directions before reaching the shore. The local fishermen and the district officials made arrangements for the fishermen to reach Kakinada on their boats, and many of whom returned by Monday afternoon. However, a couple of fishermen who took ill due to the bad weather, underwent treatment in the local hospitals before being taken to their homes by their family members by road.