Kerala - Kochi   

Boat sinks off coast; fishermen rescued

KOCHI: A fishing boat carrying 17 fishermen sank off the Kochi coast on Friday. All the fishermen were rescued.

According to information provided to the Marine Enforcement team of the Department of Fisheries by the fishermen, they had set out to the sea in their 65-foot boat “Samuel” from Mattancherry fishing harbour at 5 a.m.

Nearly 20 km off the coast, the boat overturned in the rough sea on the international sea route.

For some time, the fishermen held on to the sinking boat but when the vessel went down into the water, they clutched bamboo shafts and water cans left afloat.

They were spotted by other fishing boats after approximately 30 minutes and the Fisheries Control Room was alerted by 11.15 a.m.

A rescue team led by sub-inspector Jyothish Kumar rushed to the spot and rescued seven persons, while the remaining 10 were taken to the harbour by other fishing boats.

The Marine Enforcement team also tried to retrieve the sunken boat, but soon dropped the effort.

The rescued fishermen were admitted to the Government Hospital, Fort Kochi, as instructed by the Revenue Divisional Officer.

They were discharged after the administration of first aid.

The boat belonged to Varghese of Chellanam.

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