Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, president of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, on Tuesday called on the state government to escalate search operations for eight fishermen who have been missing since 3 August, when their boat set out from the Odalarevu jetty in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district and lost contact. The fishermen hail from Odalarevu, Dummalapeta, and Vasalatippa villages of Allavaram mandal, and their families have received no word from them in over two weeks.

Jagan's Demands to the Government

Jagan Mohan Reddy urged authorities to treat the search as a top priority, calling for a 'war footing' response. He specifically asked the government to deploy the Indian Coast Guard, the Indian Navy, the Fisheries Department, and the district administration in a coordinated effort. He also stressed that all available technology and maritime communication systems should be pressed into service to widen the search radius.

Reddy further appealed for the cooperation of fishing vessels and other boats operating along the coast, particularly in the waters off Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, and Paradip. He said efforts must continue without pause until the missing boat and all eight fishermen are accounted for. He also urged the government to provide support to the distressed families during this period of uncertainty.

Search Operations Already Underway

Konaseema district Collector Mahesh Kumar confirmed that search operations were in full swing. According to the Collector, the operation is being conducted in coordination with the Coast Guard, the Navy, and the Marine Police. He assured the families that the search would not be called off until the fishermen are located.

The fishing boat departed from the Odalarevu jetty on 3 August. No communication has been received from the crew since then — a gap of more than 15 days that has deepened anxiety among their relatives.

Why This Case Stands Out

Fishing communities along the Andhra Pradesh coastline are no strangers to maritime incidents, particularly during and after monsoon season when sea conditions can deteriorate rapidly. However, the prolonged silence — over a fortnight with no distress signal, no sighting, and no debris — has made this case especially alarming for local authorities and families alike. This is not the first time fishermen from the Konaseema coast have gone missing in the Bay of Bengal, but the scale of the coordinated response being demanded reflects the seriousness with which both the opposition and district administration are treating the situation.

What Happens Next

With search operations already involving multiple central and state agencies, the focus will now be on expanding the geographic scope of the search, particularly toward the waters near Paradip off the Odisha coast. The coming days will be critical, and pressure on the state government to provide updates to the families is likely to intensify.