8 Andhra fishermen missing in Bay of Bengal since August 3, Coast Guard searches
Synopsis
Eight fishermen from Andhra Pradesh's Konaseema district have been missing in the Bay of Bengal for over two weeks — their last contact recorded at 11 am on August 3. With Coast Guard vessels searching and CM Chandrababu Naidu personally reviewing operations, the incident follows the deaths of six other Andhra fishermen in a capsizing last month, putting the state's maritime safety record under fresh scrutiny.
Key Takeaways
Eight fishermen from B.R.
Ambedkar Konaseema district , Andhra Pradesh, have been missing in the Bay of Bengal since August 3, 2025 .
The boat departed from Odalarevu jetty at 10 am on August 3; last phone contact with crew was at 11 am the same day.
The vessel was scheduled to return by August 12 but did not, prompting a special search operation.
Indian Coast Guard vessels are actively searching; fishing boats from Kakinada , Visakhapatnam , Bhairavapalem , and Paradip have been alerted.
Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to intensify the search and maintain communication with affected families.
Last month, six fishermen died after a boat capsized near the Gangavaram coast ; families received ₹10 lakh each in ex-gratia.
Eight fishermen from Andhra Pradesh's B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district have been missing in the Bay of Bengal since August 3, with families receiving no communication from them for over two weeks, officials said on Tuesday, 18 August. The fishermen, who departed from the Odalarevu jetty at 10 am that day, were due back by August 12 but failed to return, triggering a coordinated search operation.
How the Fishermen Went Missing
The boat, carrying eight fishermen from the villages of Odalarevu, Dummalapeta, and Vasalatippa in Allavaram Mandal, set out for routine fishing in the Bay of Bengal. According to officials, phone contact with the crew was maintained until 11 am on August 3, after which all communication ceased. The boat was estimated to have reached its fishing grounds by 6 pm the same day. The fishermen were equipped with mobile phones and a VHF set on board, but neither has been reachable since.
Search Operation Under Way
Upon the boat's failure to return by its scheduled date, authorities launched a special search operation. The Indian Coast Guard Commandant was alerted, and Coast Guard vessels are actively conducting search sweeps in the area. Fishing boats from Kakinada, Bhairavapalem, Visakhapatnam, and Paradip have also been alerted and are assisting in gathering information about the missing vessel.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu Reviews Situation
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held a review meeting with officials on the incident and directed them to intensify search efforts until the missing boat and crew are located. He instructed the Coast Guard, the Fisheries Department, and the district administration to coordinate all necessary actions and operate in unison. Naidu also directed officials to maintain constant communication with the families of the missing fishermen and keep them updated on developments. He assured the affected families that the government stands firmly behind them.
A Pattern of Peril for Andhra Fishermen
This incident follows a similar tragedy last month, when six fishermen died after their mechanised vessel capsized 10 nautical miles off the Gangavaram coast in Visakhapatnam. That boat had set out on July 1 and capsized on July 4 while returning to shore. Only one of the seven on board was rescued — by the crew of a passing merchant vessel — and brought to coast on July 6. A four-day search by the Indian Navy and Coast Guard was called off on July 8, with the remaining fishermen untraced. The state government subsequently disbursed an ex-gratia of ₹10 lakh each to the families of the six deceased fishermen. Notably, this is the second major sea-missing incident involving Andhra fishermen within six weeks, raising questions about safety protocols and emergency communication equipment on smaller fishing vessels operating in the Bay of Bengal.
What Happens Next
The search operation is ongoing, with all available resources deployed. Authorities have not yet indicated a timeline for calling off the search. The families of the eight missing fishermen remain in anxious wait, with the state government having assured them of continued efforts to locate the crew safely.
Point of View
Yet communication failed within hours of departure, suggesting the equipment either malfunctioned or the vessels moved beyond effective range without any distress signal being raised. The state's response — review meetings, Coast Guard alerts, ex-gratia payments — is procedurally sound but reactive. What is missing is a preventive framework: mandatory vessel tracking systems, stricter pre-departure safety checks, and real-time monitoring of small fishing boats operating in open waters. Until those are in place, the Bay of Bengal will keep claiming lives, and the government will keep writing cheques to bereaved families.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the eight Andhra fishermen go missing in the Bay of Bengal?
The eight fishermen set out from the Odalarevu jetty in B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district at 10 am on August 3, 2025. Contact with them was lost by 11 am the same day, and they failed to return by their scheduled date of August 12.
Which villages do the missing fishermen belong to?
The fishermen are from the villages of Odalarevu, Dummalapeta, and Vasalatippa in Allavaram Mandal of B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, Andhra Pradesh.
What search efforts are under way to find the missing fishermen?
Indian Coast Guard vessels are actively conducting search operations. Fishing boats from Kakinada, Bhairavapalem, Visakhapatnam, and Paradip have also been alerted to assist. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed the Coast Guard, Fisheries Department, and district administration to coordinate and intensify efforts until the crew is found.
Has Andhra Pradesh seen similar incidents before?
Yes. Last month, six fishermen died after their boat capsized 10 nautical miles off the Gangavaram coast in Visakhapatnam. The vessel had set out on July 1 and capsized on July 4; a four-day Navy and Coast Guard search was called off on July 8. The state government paid ₹10 lakh ex-gratia to each of the six families.
What has CM Chandrababu Naidu said about the missing fishermen?
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held a review meeting with officials and directed them to intensify the search using all available resources. He instructed officials to maintain constant communication with the affected families and assured them that the government stands firmly behind them.
