15 Coast Guard vessels, 4 helicopters hunt for 7 missing Andhra fishermen in Bay of Bengal
Synopsis
Seven fishermen from Andhra Pradesh's Amalapuram region have been missing in the Bay of Bengal for over three weeks. A parliamentary intervention — with the local MP meeting the Defence Minister — has now triggered a major escalation: 15 Coast Guard vessels, 4 helicopters, and alerts to Myanmar and Bangladesh, as authorities race to find a boat that left port on 3 August and never returned.
Key Takeaways
Seven fishermen from Ambedkar Konaseema district , Andhra Pradesh, have been missing in the Bay of Bengal since 3 August ; they were due back on 12 August .
15 Indian Coast Guard vessels and 4 helicopters were deployed on Tuesday to intensify the search.
The Union Ministry of Defence raised the ICG alert level after Amalapuram MP Harish Balayogi met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh .
ICG's Eastern and North-Eastern Commands in Kolkata have been mobilised; electronic surveillance is underway via the MRCC .
Maritime authorities in Myanmar and Bangladesh have been alerted in case the vessel drifted into foreign waters.
The search spans Diamond Harbour , the Sundarbans , and surrounding marine areas.
A large-scale multi-agency search operation is underway in the Bay of Bengal to locate seven fishermen from the Amalapuram region of Andhra Pradesh who have been missing since early August, with 15 Indian Coast Guard vessels and four helicopters now deployed to widen the search area. The operation, coordinated across naval, coast guard, and state agencies, has been significantly escalated following high-level intervention at the Centre.
How the Search Was Escalated
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Kinjarapu Atchannaidu on Tuesday confirmed that the search intensification came after Amalapuram MP Harish Balayogi met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi to press for stronger action. Following that meeting, the Union Ministry of Defence raised the alert level for the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), prompting the Deputy Director General (Operations) at ICG headquarters to mobilise the Eastern and North-Eastern Commands based in Kolkata.
Scale of the Current Operation
The 15 ICG vessels and four helicopters stationed in nearby waters were deployed on Tuesday to expand the search perimeter and accelerate the effort. Electronic surveillance is being conducted simultaneously under the supervision of the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC). Maritime authorities in Myanmar and Bangladesh have also been alerted, given the possibility that the boat may have drifted into foreign territorial waters.
What May Have Happened to the Boat
The fishermen, residents of Ambedkar Konaseema district, had set out into the Bay of Bengal on 3 August and were expected to return by 12 August — making them missing for over three weeks. According to Minister Atchannaidu, the ICG is investigating multiple scenarios: the vessel may have drifted into foreign waters, or could be stranded at sea following a technical engine failure. The search accounts for ocean currents, wind direction and speed, weather conditions, and the routes typically used by local fishermen. Operations are currently being conducted across Diamond Harbour, the Sundarbans, and surrounding marine areas.
State and Centre in Coordination
Minister Atchannaidu stated that the Andhra Pradesh government is continuously monitoring the situation and maintaining active coordination with central government departments. He emphasised that every available avenue is being pursued to bring the missing fishermen home safely. The involvement of the Navy alongside the Coast Guard signals the seriousness with which authorities are treating the prolonged disappearance.
As the search enters its fourth week with no confirmed sighting, the coming days will be critical — particularly as maritime weather conditions in the Bay of Bengal can shift rapidly in the post-monsoon period.
Point of View
But it also signals that authorities cannot rule out a significant drift, which complicates recovery odds with each passing day. India's coastal fishing communities remain structurally exposed: under-equipped vessels, limited real-time tracking, and a response architecture that often requires political escalation before it shifts into high gear.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the missing fishermen and when did they go missing?
The seven fishermen are residents of Ambedkar Konaseema district in Andhra Pradesh. They set out into the Bay of Bengal on 3 August and were scheduled to return on 12 August but have not been heard from since, making them missing for over three weeks.
What is the current scale of the search operation?
As of Tuesday, 15 Indian Coast Guard vessels and four helicopters have been deployed in the Bay of Bengal. The search is also supported by the Navy, electronic surveillance through the Marine Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), and coordination with maritime authorities in Myanmar and Bangladesh.
What may have happened to the missing boat?
Authorities are investigating two main possibilities: the vessel may have drifted into foreign territorial waters, or it could be stranded at sea due to a technical engine failure. Ocean currents, wind patterns, and typical fishermen routes are all being factored into the search.
How did the Centre get involved in the search?
Amalapuram MP Harish Balayogi met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday to discuss the situation. Following that meeting, the Ministry of Defence raised the alert level for the Indian Coast Guard, leading to the mobilisation of the Eastern and North-Eastern Commands in Kolkata.
Why have Myanmar and Bangladesh been alerted?
Maritime authorities in Myanmar and Bangladesh have been notified because there is a possibility the fishing vessel drifted into their territorial waters. Alerting neighbouring maritime agencies expands the effective search area beyond Indian jurisdiction.
