Gandhinagar: The Indian Coast Guard on Thursday received information of sunken fishing boats at Navadra, Una Harbour-mouth due to bad weather. According to defence sources, the ICG immediately launched a search & rescue operation in the area sending IBs & Helicopters. Other ICG assets are also being mobilized, informed the ICG. The boats involved are Gauri Nandan, Dhanvantari, Shiv Priya, Hari Prasad and Al Faizan. An aircraft of the Indian Navy is also active. Locals claimed that at least 10 boats were completely destroyed and 40 others, which were anchored at the coast, were partially damaged due to the stormy weather.
The India Meteorology Department (IMD) on Thursday issued a bulletin warning the fishermen against venturing into the sea. The warning has been issued for the next 4 days. In association with the trough at mean sea level which runs from the cyclonic circulation over south-east & adjoining east-central the Arabian Sea to Kutch across northeast Arabian sea extending up to 1.5 km above mean sea level, squally weather is very likely to prevail along and off South Gujarat coast. Surface Current speeds vary between 40 and 95 cm/sec.
Fishermen warning for South Gujarat coast (MulDwarka, Veraval, Diu, Jafrabad, Pipavav, Victor, Bhavnagar, Alang, Bharuch, Dahej, Magdalla, Daman) – Squally weather with wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting up to 65 kmph very likely to prevail along and off south Gujarat coast and adjoining northeast the Arabian Sea on December 1st, 2021. High waves in the range of 1.5 – 3.2 meters are forecast up to December 3rd along the coast of Gujarat from Diu to Okha and from Mandvi to Jakhau. Through unconfirmed sources, it is learnt that 5 fishermen swam to save their lives. They were rescued and taken to the Nava Bandar coast. They were taken to medical care facilities as they had suffered injuries.