The Indian Coast Guard promptly responded to a distress call off the Andhra coast, rescuing nine fishermen who had suffered severe burn injuries when their boat caught fire and sank in the Bay of Bengal on April 5, 2024.
The ICGS Veera, on patrol nearby, received a distress call from a neighbouring fishing vessel reporting a fire onboard the Indian fishing boat (IFB) Durga Bhavani, approximately 65 nautical miles from Visakhapatnam harbour. The Durga Bhavani, registered in Andhra Pradesh, departed from Kakinada harbour on March 26 with nine crew members. A gas cylinder explosion ignited the fire, compelling the crew to leap into the water to escape, resulting in severe burns for some. The vessel rapidly sank due to the explosion’s damage.
Upon receiving the distress call, the ICGS Veera rushed to the scene and arrived within a few hours, providing immediate assistance to the survivors. The injured fishermen were transferred to the Coast Guard ship, where they received vital first aid from a medical team.
Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 6, in coordination with JD Fisheries Visakhapatnam, swiftly arranged ambulances and medical teams to evacuate the critically injured crew members of the IFB. All the injured fishermen were then transported to King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, for further medical treatment. Thanks to the Indian Coast Guard’s prompt response, the entire rescue operation was completed within six hours.
The Indian Coast Guard plays a pivotal role in assisting fishermen at sea and serves as the national coordinating agency for Search and Rescue at Sea.
