26 Sindhudurg fishermen missing

As many as 26 fishermen from the coastal district of Sindhudurg, along with eight boats, are missing in the Arabian Sea after Wednesday’s Cyclone Phyan.

Official sources confirmed that around 289 boats have been damaged in the storm while over 2,020 fishing nets of several fishermen are reported missing at sea. “Phyan played havoc along the coastline in Sindhudurg between Wednesday afternoon and night. The speed of the wind was recorded at 80 to 120 km per hour,” deputy director of divisional information office Satish Lalit said.

The district administration has undertaken a ground survey to assess the damage. Lalit said that 26 fishermen on eight boats were still missing as on Thursday afternoon. “All these boats had entered the sea for fishing on Tuesday. Two are reported missing at Deobag and Vijaydurg,” he said, adding that another boat which had gone missing from Deobag has safely reached Rajiwada village in Ratnagiri.

District administration officials on Wednesday evening had reported that five boats anchored at the coast at Nivati village have sunk following the cyclonic storm. Around 236 homes have partially collapsed, causing damage to the tune of Rs19.07 lakh.

Several cattle sheds and schools have also suffered damage. Meanwhile, 45 fishermen have gone missing in Goa and eight trawlers were still out at sea. A fisheries department official said the fishermen had gone out on their trawlers.