Six fishermen missing off Vizag: Navy, Coast Guard search enters Day 3
Synopsis
Six fishermen remain missing off Visakhapatnam after their boat capsized on 5 July. The sole survivor, rescued after 18 hours adrift in the Bay of Bengal, has given searchers a starting point — but rough seas are slowing a Navy-Coast Guard operation now in its third day, with families waiting and a police case registered.
Key Takeaways
Six fishermen from Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts have been missing since their boat capsized on 5 July at approximately 3:30 pm .
The Indian Navy and Coast Guard are deploying two ships and two helicopters, focusing on waters around Gangavaram .
Sole survivor Kari Chinna spent roughly 18 hours at sea before being rescued by MV Universe Wealthy ; he is in stable condition at KIMS ICON Hospital .
Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to widen the search radius; IG Gopinath Jatti is supervising from the Coast Guard's regional operations centre.
Strong winds and rough seas caused by a Bay of Bengal low-pressure area are hampering the rescue effort.
Coastal police have registered a case following a complaint by the missing fishermen's families.
The Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard pressed ahead on Tuesday, 7 July with a third consecutive day of search and rescue operations for six fishermen missing off the coast of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, as rough seas and strong winds continued to hamper efforts. The fishermen have been unaccounted for since their boat capsized on Saturday, 5 July, at approximately 3:30 pm.
Search Operation Details
Two ships and two helicopters deployed by the Coast Guard were scouring waters around Gangavaram, the area where the fishing vessel was last known to be operating. The search pattern was informed by testimony from the sole survivor, Kari Chinna, the boat's owner, who was rescued by a Panama-flagged merchant vessel, MV Universe Wealthy, on Sunday morning after spending roughly 18 hours in the sea.
The Indian Navy subsequently airlifted Chinna from the merchant vessel to INS Dega on Monday evening, from where he was transferred to KIMS ICON Hospital. Doctors confirmed he is in stable condition and is expected to be discharged within a couple of days.
How the Boat Went Missing
A group of seven fishermen from Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts had departed from Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour on 1 July. As a low-pressure area developed over the Bay of Bengal, their families reached them by mobile phone and urged them to return. The fishermen reportedly said they would be back by the afternoon of 4 July. When they failed to return and their phones went unanswered, families alerted the Coast Guard and Marine Police.
According to Chinna's account, relayed by doctors, the boat capsized on Saturday at 3:30 pm. He survived by swimming until the crew of MV Universe Wealthy pulled him aboard around 9 am on Sunday.
Government Response
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has been personally monitoring the operation and directed officials to widen the search radius. Inspector General of Police Gopinath Jatti is supervising operations from the Coast Guard's regional operations centre and briefed the Chief Minister that the search was continuing despite inclement weather.
Home Minister V. Anitha and Irrigation Minister K. Atchanaidu have been coordinating field-level efforts. Separately, coastal police registered a case following a complaint by the families of the missing fishermen and have begun an investigation.
Challenges and What Comes Next
Strong winds and a rough sea state, driven by the persisting low-pressure system in the Bay of Bengal, are posing a significant operational challenge. Notably, this is the third day of active search with no confirmed sightings of the remaining six fishermen, raising concerns about their condition in open water. The search radius has been extended on the Chief Minister's orders, and operations are expected to continue through the week as weather conditions are closely watched.
Point of View
With the Chief Minister personally monitoring and two ministers coordinating on the ground, signals political sensitivity around fishing community welfare, particularly in coastal districts that are electorally significant. But sustained attention to pre-departure weather protocols and vessel tracking for small boats would be a more durable response than crisis-mode search operations after the fact.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the fishermen missing off Visakhapatnam?
A group of seven fishermen from Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts departed Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour on 1 July. Their boat capsized on 5 July amid rough seas caused by a Bay of Bengal low-pressure area. Six remain missing; the boat's owner, Kari Chinna, was the sole survivor, rescued after about 18 hours at sea.
Who is conducting the search and rescue operation?
The Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard are jointly conducting the operation, deploying two ships and two helicopters. The search is focused around Gangavaram, off the Visakhapatnam coast, and is being supervised by Inspector General of Police Gopinath Jatti from the Coast Guard's regional operations centre.
What is the condition of the rescued fisherman Kari Chinna?
Kari Chinna, the boat's owner and sole survivor, is in stable condition at KIMS ICON Hospital in Visakhapatnam. He was airlifted by the Indian Navy from MV Universe Wealthy to INS Dega on Monday evening and is expected to be discharged within a couple of days.
Why is the search operation difficult?
Strong winds and a rough sea state, driven by a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal, are posing significant challenges to search vessels and helicopters. The adverse weather was also the primary reason the fishing boat capsized in the first place.
What action has the Andhra Pradesh government taken?
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has been personally monitoring the operation and ordered officials to widen the search radius. Home Minister V. Anitha and Irrigation Minister K. Atchanaidu are coordinating field efforts, while coastal police have registered a case on a complaint by the missing fishermen's families.
