Seven missing Andhra fishermen found safe on West Bengal coast
Synopsis
Seven Andhra Pradesh fishermen who drifted off course in the Bay of Bengal for nearly three weeks — triggering a massive search involving 15 Coast Guard vessels, four helicopters, and alerts to Myanmar and Bangladesh — have been found safe on the West Bengal coast after a boat breakdown sent them hundreds of kilometres off their planned route.
Key Takeaways
Seven fishermen from B.
Ambedkar Konaseema district who went missing in the Bay of Bengal have been traced safe to the West Bengal coast.
The crew departed Odalarevu on 3 August and were due back by 12 August ; a boat technical failure caused them to drift off course.
A search involving 15 ICG vessels and 4 helicopters was launched before the fishermen were located.
Maritime authorities in Myanmar and Bangladesh were also alerted during the operation.
Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu confirmed all fishermen are safe and directed officials to travel to West Bengal to bring them home.
Seven fishermen from Andhra Pradesh who had been missing in the Bay of Bengal since early August 2025 have been traced to the West Bengal coast, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Kinjarapu Atchannaidu confirmed on Wednesday, 26 August. All seven are reported safe, bringing relief to families who had lost contact with the crew nearly two weeks ago.
What Happened to the Fishermen
The fishermen, residents of B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, had set out to sea from Odalarevu on 3 August and were due back by 12 August. When they failed to return, their families raised the alarm. According to officials, a technical failure in the boat caused the vessel to drift off course, eventually reaching the West Bengal coastline. Details were verified after authorities spoke with Bhavani Prasad, the brother of the boat owner.
Scale of the Search Operation
Before the fishermen were traced, an extensive multi-agency search had been launched across the Bay of Bengal. On Tuesday, 15 Indian Coast Guard (ICG) vessels and four helicopters were deployed to expand the search area. The operation was conducted in coordination with the ICG, the Indian Navy, and multiple state and central departments.
The Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) simultaneously ran electronic surveillance over the search zone. Notably, maritime authorities in Myanmar and Bangladesh were also alerted, reflecting the breadth of the operation and the uncertainty over how far the vessel may have drifted.
Government Response and Next Steps
Minister Atchannaidu credited coordinated government machinery for the successful tracing, specifically commending the District Collector, the Commissioner, the Joint Director of Fisheries, and other officials. He noted that the Eastern and North-Eastern Commands of the ICG in Kolkata were mobilised following directives from the Deputy Director General (Operations) at ICG headquarters.
Officials have been directed to travel to West Bengal to facilitate the fishermen's return to Andhra Pradesh. Families of the missing men, who had spent weeks in anxious uncertainty, were described as relieved upon receiving confirmation of their safety.
Broader Context
Fishing communities along Andhra Pradesh's coastline are no strangers to such ordeals — technical breakdowns, rough weather, and navigational drift regularly put crews at risk in the Bay of Bengal. This incident underscores the critical role of multi-agency maritime coordination and the need for robust vessel-tracking systems for small fishing boats venturing into open waters. With the fishermen now located, attention shifts to their safe repatriation and a review of the boat's condition.
Point of View
But the episode exposes a persistent gap: small fishing vessels operating in the Bay of Bengal routinely lack reliable real-time tracking, leaving families and authorities in the dark for days when something goes wrong. A search requiring 15 Coast Guard vessels, four helicopters, and international maritime alerts is an enormous resource commitment for what a basic vessel transponder could have resolved in hours. Andhra Pradesh's fishing communities are economically vital and physically vulnerable — the state and Centre need to accelerate mandatory AIS or GPS transponder fitment for all mechanised fishing boats, not just treat each rescue as a one-off coordination success.
NationPress
26 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where were the seven missing Andhra Pradesh fishermen found?
The seven fishermen were traced to the West Bengal coast, according to Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu. A technical failure in their boat caused them to drift far off their intended course in the Bay of Bengal.
When did the Andhra Pradesh fishermen go missing?
The fishermen set out from Odalarevu on 3 August 2025 and were due to return by 12 August. Their families lost contact with them around that date, prompting a search operation.
How were the missing fishermen located?
Officials confirmed the fishermen's whereabouts after speaking with Bhavani Prasad, the brother of the boat owner. A large-scale search involving 15 Indian Coast Guard vessels, four helicopters, and electronic surveillance by the MRCC had been underway before they were traced.
Are all seven fishermen safe?
Yes. Minister Atchannaidu confirmed that all seven fishermen are safe. Steps have been initiated to bring them back to Andhra Pradesh, with officials directed to travel to West Bengal.
Which agencies were involved in the search operation?
The search was conducted in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard, the Indian Navy, state fisheries departments, and the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre. Maritime authorities in Myanmar and Bangladesh were also alerted given the uncertainty over how far the vessel may have drifted.
