Coast Guard, merchant vessel save 5 fishermen from drowning

Five fishermen in distress after their boat began to sink off Kerala coast amid cyclonic weather were rescued in a coordinated operation by the Indian Coast Guard and a merchant vessel on Thursday.

They were rescued off Ponnani in Malappuram district, a Defence spokesman said here.

The fishermen in a boat 'Samool' sent a distress signal as the vessel began to sink in the wee hours, he said.

Merchant vessel MV Chrimson Knight, which was passing close by, was requested to rescue the fishermen.

The rescued fishermen were later transferred to the Coast Guard Ship which arrived here with the fishermen in the afternoon.

Samool had set out to sea on October 28 from Chetuva harbour.

The spokesman said Coast Guard ships and aircraft were pressed into action following the cyclonic storm in the Arabian sea.

A number of boats has been docked in different ports in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Lakshadweep.

In the wake of the two cyclonic systems - Kyaar and Maha - in the Arabian Sea, fishermen have been advised not to enter the sea till the weather improved.

Merchant vessels have been requested to look out for fishing boats and advise the fishermen in mid-sea to return to the harbour, the spokesman said.