Seven boats and 30 fishermen missing

As many as seven boats with 30 fishermen have been reported missing off the Saurashtra coast since Monday night.

Fishermen's association sources here said the boats went missing from Indian waters last night.

Of the total seven boats missing, four were from Porbandar and three from Okha port, the association sources said.

The sources said the missing boats are suspected to be apprehended by the Pakistan Marine Security.

Coast guard officials said according to written complaints that they have received on Tuesday, five fishing boats with 30 fishermen are reported missing.

Investigations are progressing and it is not clear whether the boats had crossed into the international waters during fishing, coast guard officials said.

Gujarat state fisheries department officials at the Okha Port said two boats from Mangrol and Vanakbara were reported missing with six fishermen on them on Monday.

The Coast Guard officials, however, said it was not clear whether the boats were apprehended by the Pakistani coast guard officials after they crossed to international waters.

Officials said it could also be possible that the boats might have ventured far off the Saurashtra coast and yet are in Indian waters.

Citing an example, the Coast Guard officials said, for the past 25 days, a boat of Kerala, 'Mary Christen' was missing from the Arabian Sea, which later was found near Mumbai with 10 fishermen.

The boat was brought to Okha port on Monday.

Coast Guard commandant Kajal Roy said complaints have so far been received by boat owners that five boats from Veraval and Mangrol have been missing.

"These boats are Hiteshwari, Mrignayini, Sagar Ganga, Sagar Prem, and Loni Prasad. Each boat was manned by six fishermen," said, the coast guard commandant.