Sri Lankan Navy Successfully Rescues Missing Indian Fishermen After Week-Long Ordeal

The Sri Lankan Navy successfully rescued four Indian fishermen who had been stranded at sea for more than a week after their fishing vessel disappeared amid harsh weather conditions, according to officials on Monday.

The rescue mission, executed on Sunday off Sri Lanka's western coast, was part of a coordinated Search and Rescue (SAR) effort. The operation was initiated by the Sri Lankan Navy following a notification from the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) in Mumbai.

Communication with the fishing boat was lost on June 29 due to adverse sea conditions, raising alarms among Indian maritime authorities. Upon receiving the alert, the Sri Lankan Navy dispatched vessels and surveillance equipment to locate the missing boat and rescue its crew safely.

All four fishermen were found alive and were brought to shore, where they were given initial medical treatment. Authorities from both India and Sri Lanka are collaborating to ensure the fishermen's safe return to India.

This successful operation underscores the ongoing maritime cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in safeguarding the welfare of seafarers in the Indian Ocean region.