Two fishing boats carrying 15 fishermen sank at Mumbai coast on early morning on Monday which forced the Coast Guard to launch a search operation. Defense spokesperson confirmed that all the 15 fishermen were rescued by other fishermen in the area.

Defense spokesperson said, “At about midnight of August 21/22, two fishing boats Himsagar and Krishna Sagar were reportedly sunk at sea 7 NM from Umargam. Reported location is about 70 NM north of Mumbai.”

He further said, “A Sea King 42B, all weather helicopter was launched to search for survivors. Indian Naval Ship Ganga and Indian Coast Guard Ship Agrim were also diverted to the area.”

He added that all the 15 fishermen were picked up by the other fishermen in the area and have landed ashore early this morning. He said that the ships then returned to their respective tasks.

Vishal Daundkar, Palghar district’s Talasari taluka tehsildar, said that the fishermen had set out in two fishing boats from Zai and Gholwad villages yesterday evening.

He added that the message received by the authorities of the fishermen being in trouble. The authorities, immediately, then asked the coast guard and Navy for the help.

Daundkar said that the 15 fishermen had jumped out of the sinking fishing boats and swam eight nautical miles to the shore at Vrindavan in Umbargaon village at around 4 am today.

To save the fellow community members, local fishermen in the area rushed into the sea, he said.

By Prajakt K