PARADIP: The three fishermen, who had gone missing after their trawler capsized in Mahanadi river mouth in Paradip on Monday evening, are yet to be found. They are Kailash Parida, Madhabananda Mohanty and Kathia Majhi.
The search operation by Marine police personnel and Coast Guard was affected on Wednesday due to high tide and heavy silt deposit on the river mouth.
Police said seven fishermen from Tihidi of Bhadrak district had ventured into the sea for fishing on ‘Sreekhetra 5’ trawler owned by Narayan Mohanty of Harishpur under Balikuda police limits on June 25. They were returning to Paradip fishing harbour when the trawler began to sink due to high tide and rough sea. Fishermen Ashok Parida, Manas Majhi, Surendra Majhi and Chandrabhanu Majhi swam to the fishing harbour and informed the marine police. Sources said the 500 metre-long river water channel, through which the vessels make their way into the sea, has undergone heavy siltation. As a result, rescue vessels are unable to reach the spot where the trawler had capsized.
IIC of Marine police station, Manoranjan Chaudhury said as the water level has decreased due to siltation, inflatable speed boats have been pressed for rescue operation.