The Indian Coast Guard rescued 15 Indian fishermen, aboard the fishing boat Krishna Kanaiya, from around Kakdwip, West Bengal, on Saturday night.
In a swift operation in rough sea conditions, Indian Coast Guard ship (ICGS) Vijaya, which was on duty in northern Bay of Bengal, picked up a distress call from the stranded Krishna Kanaiya.
Realising that the fishing boat was in great distress as sea conditions were highly adverse, Vijaya immediately changed course and set out to rescue the fishing boat.
Judging the direction of wind and sea conditions well, Vijaya — under the command of DIG Vijay Singh — located the boat quickly. Any delay may have been catastrophic as the boat could have drifted into foreign waters.
The fishermen informed that the boat had lost its propellers in rough weather and drifted about 15 nautical miles in 24 hours due to strong winds, leaving the boat crew exhausted and helpless.
Vijaya towed the crippled fishing boat to a safe location near the West Bengal coast. Coast Guard Station Frazerganj contacted the boat owner, and arranged for two boats to receive the fishermen and the boat from ICGS Vijaya on Sunday morning.
