Jagan blames Naidu govt negligence for death of 6 Visakhapatnam fishermen, seeks ₹1 crore each
Synopsis
Six fishermen drowned near Gangavaram Port after SOS calls to officials allegedly went unanswered for hours — and YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy is holding the Naidu government directly responsible. With the Coast Guard and Eastern Naval Command both headquartered in Visakhapatnam, the failure to respond is the sharpest edge of his attack.
Key Takeaways
Six fishermen died after their boat capsized roughly 10 miles from Gangavaram Port , Visakhapatnam ; lone survivor Chinna was rescued by a Chinese vessel.
Families reportedly sent SOS messages to the Collector and police on the night of 4 July , but received no official response.
Jagan Mohan Reddy demanded ₹1 crore each in compensation for the affected families, blaming Naidu government negligence.
The state government paid ₹10 lakh each to the families and appointed a three-member inquiry committee.
YSRCP announced immediate financial assistance of ₹7 lakh each to the deceased fishermen's families and to survivor Chinna.
Jagan pledged that if the coalition government fails to pay ₹1 crore , YSRCP will fulfil the promise on returning to power.
Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Tuesday, 14 July squarely blamed the Andhra Pradesh coalition government led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for the deaths of six fishermen whose boat capsized near Visakhapatnam, and demanded compensation of ₹1 crore each for the bereaved families. Jagan made the remarks after visiting the families of the deceased and meeting the lone survivor of the tragedy.
What Happened at Sea
According to Jagan, a boat carrying seven fishermen capsized approximately 10 miles from Gangavaram Port. The lone survivor, identified as Chinna, managed to swim to safety and was rescued by a Chinese vessel. Family members of the other fishermen reportedly sent repeated SOS messages and made calls to the district Collector and police officials on the night of 4 July, but received no response.
Jagan alleged that a three-member committee appointed by the state government later reported that information about the incident was received on 5 July at 5:00 am — a timeline he said contradicts the call records and messages from the families, which show distress signals were sent the previous night.
Jagan's Charges Against the Naidu Government
Jagan argued that Visakhapatnam is home to both the Coast Guard and the Eastern Naval Command headquarters, making the government's failure to mount a timely rescue operation inexcusable. He said that from Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu down to the cabinet ministers holding the Fisheries and Disaster Management portfolios, none visited the affected families.
'The cruel part of the incident is that from the Chief Minister to the Cabinet ministers handling the Fisheries and Disaster Management portfolios, none of them even visited the affected families till now and instead washed their hands of the matter by paying compensation of ₹10 lakh to each family,' Jagan said.
Compensation Demand and YSRCP's Pledge
Jagan demanded the state government pay ₹1 crore each to all affected families, arguing that government negligence makes it fully liable. He further stated that if the coalition government fails to provide this compensation, the YSRCP would fulfil the promise upon returning to power.
Meanwhile, K.K. Raju, YSRCP Visakhapatnam district president, announced that Jagan has also extended immediate financial assistance of ₹7 lakh each to the families of the six deceased fishermen and to survivor Chinna.
Political Context
Jagan invoked the YSRCP government's record on fishermen welfare, recalling that his administration had negotiated the release of fishermen jailed in Pakistan and Bangladesh by engaging the Centre. He framed Tuesday's tragedy as a stark contrast to that track record, accusing the current coalition of a 'callous approach' and 'sheer negligence.' This incident adds to a growing list of opposition challenges to the Naidu-led government's disaster response capabilities.
The state government's response to the compensation demand and the findings of the three-member inquiry committee are expected to shape the political narrative around the tragedy in the days ahead.
Point of View
If verified through call records, would be damaging for the Naidu administration. The ₹10 lakh compensation already paid versus the ₹1 crore demanded is also a number the government will struggle to defend publicly, regardless of legal liability.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the six fishermen near Visakhapatnam?
A boat carrying seven fishermen capsized approximately 10 miles from Gangavaram Port, Visakhapatnam. Six of the seven died; the lone survivor, Chinna, swam to safety and was rescued by a Chinese vessel.
Why is Jagan Mohan Reddy blaming the Naidu government?
Jagan alleges that family members sent SOS messages and called district officials on the night of 4 July but received no response, despite Visakhapatnam being home to both the Coast Guard and the Eastern Naval Command. He argues a timely response could have saved the other fishermen.
What compensation has been paid or demanded?
The Andhra Pradesh government paid ₹10 lakh to each affected family. Jagan has demanded ₹1 crore per family, and YSRCP has separately announced ₹7 lakh each to the families of the deceased and to survivor Chinna.
What is the dispute over the timeline of the rescue response?
A state-appointed three-member committee reportedly stated that information about the capsize was received on 5 July at 5:00 am. However, Jagan claims call records and SOS messages from the families show distress signals were sent on the night of 4 July, indicating a gap in the official account.
What has the Naidu government done in response?
The Andhra Pradesh coalition government paid ₹10 lakh in compensation to each affected family and appointed a three-member inquiry committee to examine the incident. As of Jagan's visit on 14 July, no cabinet minister had reportedly visited the bereaved families.
