31 fisherfolks stranded in river Godavari rescued by Navy

As many as 31 fisherfolks, including 12 women, who were caught in the swelling floodwaters in river Godavari at Polavaram were safely rescued by the Indian Navy on Friday. A Navy helicopter, which was pressed into service from Visakhapatnam for the rescue operation, airlifted the stranded fishers to Dowaleswaram in two sorties, the State Disaster Management Authority said.

The 31 people set out in country boats from Dowaleswaram in the morning despite heavy flood in the river. As they were crossing the river, they got stuck at Veeravarapulanka on the upstream of the Polavaram coffer dam.

The Water Resources Department personnel, who noticed the stranded fishermen, sent an SOS to the State Emergency Operations Centre. A team of NDRF personnel was immediately rushed to the location, but the rescue operation proved daunting due to surge in the flood level.

Accordingly, state Disaster Management Commissioner K Kanna Babu called the Navy in Visakhapatnam and sought deployment of a helicopter to rescue the 31 people. The Navy helicopter that reached Polavaram around 1 pm, conducted two sorties and safely airlifted the stranded people, the SDMA said.

Three of the women, who fell unconscious due to lack of food, were provided first aid at Dowaleswaram. They are now back with their families..