Fishing trip turns 22-day saga of survival
What started as a 15-day maiden fishing trip for seven fishermen from Konaseema district, quickly became a nightmare after their boat’s engine failure left them drifting helplessly at sea and bringing them close encounters with giant creatures like whales. T. Appala Naidu highlights the harrowing ordeal.
On August 3, 2026, 49-year-old fisherman Koppanathi Ramakrishna embarked on a deep-sea fishing expedition from the coastal town of Odalarevu. Ramakrishna and his six-member crew had set sail to catch the highly sought-after yellowfin tuna in the vast Bay of Bengal. Equipped with a boat painted yellow, symbolizing the auspicious turmeric ritual, they carried provisions for a fortnight, including ice, diesel, water, and supplies.
Ramakrishna, a fisherfolk from Vynateya, a branch of the Godavari River, had never ventured into deep-sea fishing before. However, the country's surge in tuna exports and the increasing demand for this prized fish motivated him to take the risk. The crew consisted of seven men, including Palepu Santa Rao, a first-time deep-sea fisherman, and experienced boat drivers Sangani Tata Rao and Kollati Srinubabu.
The voyage began with high hopes, but as darkness fell, the crew realized that they had not caught a single tuna. As the days passed, the engine of their boat failed, leaving them adrift and unable to control their course. On August 7, the crew was 200 nautical miles away from the Visakhapatnam coast. In the face of uncertainty, Ramakrishna and the crew tried to keep their spirits high by sharing updates with their families back home, who were anxiously waiting for their return.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
