The government on Wednesday distributed financial assistance of ₹10 lakh to the families of the six fishermen who went missing in the Bay of Bengal off the Visakhapatnam coast after their boat capsized on July 4, amid the protest by the families and local fishermen demanding intensified search and more compensation.
The joint search operation launched by the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard was called off on Wednesday as the fishermen or the wreckage of the boat could not be traced within the standard 72-hour search window. The three-member panel, in their report submitted to the government, recommended that the missing fishermen be presumed dead.
Excise Minister Kollu Ravindra being stopped by protesters, including the family of the six missing fishermen, demanding more compensation, after the former distributed ₹10 lakh in the form of cheques to the families of fishermen at the Vizag Fishing Harbour on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: KR DEEPAK
Fisheries Minister Kollu Ravindra, on Wednesday, visited the Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour to meet the grieving families. He distributed financial assistance of ₹10 lakh per family, comprising ₹5 lakh from the Fisheries Department and ₹5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The incident occurred on July 4 when a mechanised boat with seven fishermen on board encountered rough seas due to a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. The sole survivor, Kari Chinna, was rescued by a merchant vessel after drifting at sea.
He reported that the boat capsized after being hit by strong gales, and the remaining six crew members went missing. Multi-agency search operations involving the Indian Coast Guard, the Indian Navy, and the Coastal Security Police failed to trace the six missing individuals after 96 hours.
Meanwhile, affected families and local leaders expressed dissatisfaction over the compensation amount, leading to a protest at the harbour.
The families argued that the financial assistance was a premature attempt by the government to close the issue without finding their loved ones. They confronted the Minister, demanding that the search operations be intensified immediately rather than focusing on the formality of handing over cheques. They also demanded more compensation.
Meanwhile, East Coast Mechanised Fishing Boat Owners Association has accused the district administration, Marine Police, and Fisheries Department of a delayed response.
Association president Vasupalli Janakiram stated that precious time was lost between the initial distress report and the launch of full-scale search operations. Political leaders have also joined the criticism, slamming the coalition government for administrative failure. They have demanded a high-level independent inquiry, arguing that the government’s response lacked the urgency required for such an emergency.
Beyond the immediate ex gratia payment, there are growing calls for substantially higher compensation, with various groups demanding up to ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore per family. The fishing community is also pushing for structural changes, including the implementation of mandatory advanced GPS tracking for all fishing boats and the establishment of a modern, more robust maritime emergency response system to prevent similar tragedies.
Mr. Ravindra said that the government was committed to the rescue mission and addressing the pending welfare disbursements.
Published - July 08, 2026 09:35 pm IST