Three missing Cuddalore fishermen traced

Three fishermen of Cuddalore district who were reported missing after they set sail for fishing on June 3 were traced near Nallavadu on Monday.

The fishermen – all from Indira Nagar in Bhuvanagiri ventured into the sea in a fibre boat from the landing centre at Annan Kovil.

Official sources said though the fishermen were due to return on June 4, their boat suffered a mechanical failure about 19 nautical miles from the landing centre and was left adrift.

Based on a request from the Cuddalore district administration, the Coast Guard deployed two vessels and a helicopter to the area for the search. Strong winds had pushed the boat northwards and it was located in the Nallavadu area near the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry border.

While returning from the Cuddalore harbour, a fishing boat from Sonankuppam found the boat near Nallavadu. The crew in the fishing boat found the three fishermen exhausted and without food, and alerted the Fisheries Department officials. The three fishermen were brought ashore and taken to the Cuddalore Government General Hospital.