Bhatkal:  Four fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Kerala rescued from a sinking fishing boat in Arabin sea about 15 nautical miles off Honnavar coast in Uttara Kannada district on Tuesday.

Indian Coast Guard (ICG) was searching for two missing fishermen. The incident occurred when 17 fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Kerala were fishing in two boats - Angel 1 and Angel 2 off Honnavar coast near Netrani island.

It is said they had left Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu a few days back to fish in deep sea off Karnataka coast.

Following Mekunu cyclone, the Arabian Sea was rough since last three-four days. Angel-1 boat, which had seven people, began to sink in the sea. While Angel 2, was halted due to a technical problem in the nearby place. It is said that out of seven, five fishermen who jumped from Angel 1 boat  were reached to Angel 2 boat and were rescued but remaining two fishermen were not able to reached to the boat and were missing. Meanwhile the stranded fishermen  were informed about the incident to the coastal helpline.

Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC)’s Chennai office passed the message to Karwar and Mangaluru ICG offices. Two ICG boats from Mangaluru and one ICG boat from Karwar went for deep sea and conducted the rescue operation for two missing fishermen.

They towed Angel-2 boat to Honnavar coast. The rescued fishermen were identified as Thatheuse of Poonthura of Kerala and Sebastiyan, Jegadhas and Shijan of Poothurai in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. These were taken to Honnavar government hospital. One of them sustained a leg injury and others are safe.

The missing persons have been identified as Pushparaj, 46, and Arulraj (24) of Poothurai. A senior officer from ICG said following cyclone, there was warning for fishermen not to go for fishing.