Navy, Coast Guard hunt for 7 missing Andhra fishermen in Bay of Bengal
Synopsis
Seven fishermen from Andhra Pradesh's Ambedkar Konaseema district have been missing in the Bay of Bengal since their boat met with an accident around 12 nautical miles offshore — more than a week after they were due to return. The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have mobilised two Dornier aircraft, a helicopter, and seven boats in one of the largest maritime search operations seen off the Andhra coast this year.
Key Takeaways
Seven fishermen from Ambedkar Konaseema district, Andhra Pradesh have been missing in the Bay of Bengal since 3 August , more than a week past their 12 August return date.
The search deploys two Dornier aircraft , one Navy helicopter from Kolkata, and seven Navy and Coast Guard boats .
The boat reportedly met with an accident about 12 nautical miles off the coast; crew member Appanna is among those missing.
Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the operation on Wednesday and directed officials to intensify efforts and update families regularly.
Fishing boats from Kakinada , Bhairavapalem , Visakhapatnam , and Paradip are assisting in the search.
A large-scale search operation is underway in the Bay of Bengal for seven fishermen from Andhra Pradesh who have been missing since their boat met with an accident roughly 12 nautical miles off the coast, officials confirmed on Thursday, 20 August. The fishermen, from villages in Dr B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, set out on 3 August and were due back on 12 August — they have not been heard from since.
Scale of the Search Operation
Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu said the operation is deploying two Dornier aircraft, one helicopter, and seven boats of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard. Dornier aircraft from Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, and Chennai are conducting aerial sorties over potential areas, while a Navy helicopter from Kolkata has also been pressed into service. Navy boats are conducting an extensive sweep from Visakhapatnam towards Paradip, with an additional vessel searching near the port area.
'We are using all available resources to search for the missing fishermen with constant coordination between the Navy, Coast Guard, and the Fisheries Department,' Atchannaidu said, adding that the search would continue until the fishermen are brought back safely.
Who Is Missing and Where They Are From
The fishermen hail from Odalarevu, Dummalapeta, and Vasalathippa villages in Allavaram mandal of Ambedkar Konaseema district. One of the eight crew members aboard the boat, identified as Appanna, went missing following the accident. Home and Disaster Management Minister V. Anitha directed officials to deploy all available resources to locate Appanna and reunite him with his family.
Government Response and Oversight
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday reviewed the search operations through a virtual interaction with Minister Atchannaidu and senior officials, directing them to intensify efforts and keep families regularly updated on progress. Minister Anitha, separately, stressed the need for greater vigilance for the safety of fishermen venturing into open sea, and assured that the government stands by the affected families.
Fishing boats from Kakinada, Bhairavapalem, Visakhapatnam, and Paradip have been alerted and are assisting in gathering information about the missing vessel. The Coast Guard, Marine Police, and the district administration are continuously monitoring the rescue effort.
What Happens Next
Continuous search sorties are being conducted in potential areas, with the operation spanning a wide stretch of the Bay of Bengal. The government has acknowledged the anxiety of the fishermen's families and has committed to maintaining regular communication with them. With the fishermen now more than a week overdue, the search effort is expected to remain at full intensity in the coming days.
Point of View
A helicopter, and seven vessels — signals that authorities are treating this as a critical search-and-rescue window, not a routine missing-boat case. Yet the fishermen have been overdue for more than eight days, and the Bay of Bengal's monsoon conditions make each passing day more consequential. What this episode also underscores is a recurring vulnerability: fishermen from Andhra Pradesh's coastal districts regularly venture into open sea with limited real-time tracking, and the gap between departure and distress notification remains dangerously wide. Greater vigilance, as Minister Anitha acknowledged, is not just advisable — it is overdue.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many fishermen are missing in the Bay of Bengal search operation?
Seven fishermen from Andhra Pradesh are currently missing in the Bay of Bengal. They set out on 3 August from villages in Ambedkar Konaseema district and were due to return on 12 August but have not been accounted for since their boat reportedly met with an accident about 12 nautical miles off the coast.
What resources are deployed in the search for the missing Andhra fishermen?
The search involves two Dornier aircraft operating from Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, and Chennai, one Navy helicopter from Kolkata, and seven boats of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. Fishing vessels from Kakinada, Bhairavapalem, Visakhapatnam, and Paradip are also assisting.
Where are the missing fishermen from?
The fishermen are from Odalarevu, Dummalapeta, and Vasalathippa villages in Allavaram mandal of Dr B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district in Andhra Pradesh.
What is the Andhra Pradesh government doing about the missing fishermen?
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the search operation on Wednesday and directed officials to intensify efforts and keep the families regularly informed. Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu and Home Minister V. Anitha are also directly overseeing the operation.
Who is Appanna in the context of the missing fishermen?
Appanna is identified as one of the eight crew members on the boat that met with an accident. He is among those missing, and Home Minister V. Anitha specifically directed officials to utilise all available resources to locate him and reunite him with his family.
