Rajahmundry: East Godavari district collector H Arun Kumar issued a statement here on Tuesday that the Andhra Pradesh state government will extended all assistance to fishermen who went missing at sea.
According to the statement, eight farmers went to sea in a boat, but went missing due to an atmospheric depression.
The boat overturned after which seven out of eight fishermen on board went missing though one fisherman, namely Peda Kotaiah, was brought to the shore by fellow fishermen, the statement said.
The seven missing fishermen belong to Pagadalapeta of Kakinada's rural area. Their names are D Simhadri (40), K Nuka Raju (25), C Bucchi Babu (30), G Tata Rao (40), A Sattibabu (50), K Raju (30) and G Satyanarayana (50), the statement said.
Efforts are on to trace the missing seven fishermen, the statement said, adding that choppers are searching for the missing fishermen.
The district collector's statement said that a search is on with Coast Guard trying to bring them safely to the shore.
Choppers belonging to the ONGC, Reliance Industries and the Coast Guard have been searching for the fishermen fishermen who went missing at sea, the statement said.
He said that 29 boats reached ashore yesterday out of 43 boats which had gone out to sea, the statement said.
"If the seven fishermen die and if their bodies are not found, a state government appointed three-member team will conduct an enquiry and provide all assistance to their families," he said in the statement.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh State Finance Minister Y Ramakrishnudu said here today that the AP state government would extend all assistance to the seven missing fishermen.
He telephoned family members of the seven fishermen from Pagadalapeta in Kakinada of East Godavari district and assured that all help would be provided to them.
AP Deputy Chief Minister N Chinarajappa, irrigation minister D Umamaheswara Rao and agricultural minister P Pulla Rao are scheduled to visit Pagadalapeta tomorrow.
