PUDUCHERRY: Personnel of the Indian Coast Guard, Puducherry, rescued nine fishermen from Nagapattinam, who were stranded mid-sea after their vessel developed a snag, in the early hours of Sunday.
The Coast Guard received a message from the Cuddalore Coastal Security Group at 12.15 am that nine fishermen from Nagapattinam were stranded north-east of Puducherry, approximately 23 nautical miles off the Light House at Vambakeerapalayam.
The Coast Guard team, led by N R Kumar, went in the Interceptor Craft, braving the rough sea conditions and located the stranded fishermen and their vessel Vinishree around 2.50 am.
Then, the team helped the fishermen rectify the snag as water also seeped into the engine room. They provided the fishermen 20 litres of diesel and the vessel started back to the shore around 3:30 am. It reached the Thengaithittu harbour mouth at about 6:15 am. Since the vessel was huge, it could not pass through the harbour mouth and had to be anchored near the entry point.
Captain of the team Kumar said the nine fishermen were safe and their vessel was guided to the shore by the team. Other members of the Coast Guard crew included engineer Srinath and assistants S K Mehta and Varun Kumar.
Sources said the fishing vessel, which has been rescued, may need further repairs before it can again embark on a journey back to Nagapattinam.
It may recalled that the Indian Coast Guard had rescued four fishermen from Cuddalore on the night of July 28 night after their vessel submerged in sea due to water ingress.