Search for missing fisherman yields no result

KOCHI: Rescue operations failed to find the fisherman who fell overboard his boat on Saturday into the waters, near Munambam. The fisherman, Andrews, 55, from Kolachal in Tamil Nadu, was returning to the coast on Saturday on a fishing boat, ‘Jithin’. The incident took place at 11.30 pm, Deputy Director of Fisheries, Ernakulam, K G Georgekutty said. The Fisheries Department was intimated by around 6 am on Sunday. The boat, which was sent for rescue operation in the morning returned to coast by 5 pm without recovering the body.  The operation will continue on Monday, Laskar, Vypeen Fisheries, Rajeev said. Meanwhile, the helicopter employed by the Coast Guard too returned without any success. A ship employed by the Coast Guard will continue the search operations during the night. “The sea has been very rough. The fishermen usually return by dusk on Saturday. This boat remained late for some particular reason. Besides, the Munambam waters are one of the most dangerous zones in Ernakulam. The Periyar and Chalakkudy river fall into the sea here. This makes the area particularly susceptible,” the Deputy Director said.The accident in Munambam comes after three more similar cases in close succession in the state. The Indian Meteorological Department has issued warning to fishermen in Kerala and Lakshadweep from Sunday against venturing to the deep seas.