Andhra govt announces Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia for missing fishermen's families

Visakhapatnam,UPDATED: Jul 8, 2026 12:45 IST

The Andhra Pradesh government has announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of six fishermen who remain missing after their fishing boat disappeared off the Visakhapatnam coast. The announcement came as search operations continued with the help of multiple agencies.

Seven fishermen who went into the sea from the Visakhapatnam coast on July 1 had gone missing. One of them was later rescued by a passing vessel, while efforts are continuing to trace the remaining six.

"The government stands with the affected families and has approved an immediate ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh each for them," Andhra Pradesh Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu said in an official release late on Tuesday.

He directed Visakhapatnam District Collector M Abhishikth Kishore to release the financial assistance on the recommendation of Fisheries Commissioner Rama Shankar Nayak and in line with government norms.

Describing the anguish of the affected families as deeply distressing, Atchannaidu said the government understood the pain, anxiety and uncertainty they were facing while waiting for information about their loved ones. He assured them that the government would stand by them in every possible way during this difficult time.

The minister said he, along with the people of the state, was praying for the safe return of the missing fishermen. He added that search operations were continuing on a war footing in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard, the Indian Navy, the Coastal Security Police, the Visakhapatnam Port Authority and other agencies.

Atchannaidu said Nayak had already met the affected families and consoled them, while the government was continuously monitoring the situation.

He noted that four days had passed since the fishermen went missing and appealed to the families not to lose hope, adding that the search would continue and all necessary measures would be taken for their welfare.

The government has announced financial assistance for the six affected families as the search for the missing fishermen continues off the Visakhapatnam coast, with officials saying all possible support will be extended to them.

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