9 Indian fishermen flee from Yemen by sea to escape sponsor, arrive safely in Kochi

Nine Indian fishermen undertook a perilious sea journey from Yemen to flee from ir sponsor and arrived in Kochi on Friday, officials said. ir arrival was me possible due to timely intervention of Coast Guard, y said.

Coast Guard rescued fishermen who fled Yemen in a fishing vessel after being harassed by ir sponsor in Middle East nation, a Defence spokesman said in Kochi on Friday.

He said Coast Guard intervened following an e-mail from South Asian Fishermen Fraternity (Kanyakumari) on Thursday about nine Indian fishermen in distress at sea.

fishermen, seven from Tamil Nu and two from Kerala, were working in Yemen for a sponsor, who h hired m for fishing in his mechanised fishing trawler.

sponsor h t paid m and was reluctant in providing m with basic amenities like food and shelter. So fishermen deciced to flee from Yemen to save ir lives, spokesman said in a release in Kochi .

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On receiving  mess from fraternity, Coast Guard contacted wife of one of fishermen from Kanyakumari district and learnt that her husband h contacted her at 5.30 AM on vember 27 off Lakshweep.

She informed m that fishermen were heing back to Kochi and h very little fuel and ration.

Coast Guard n planned an air-sea coordinated search and rescue operation,in which a Maritime Surveillance Dornier aircraft was launched at 3:30 PM on Thursday from Kochi. aircraft spotted fishing boat 100 nautical miles west of Kochi.

Coast Guard Ship, Aryaman immediately sailed from Kochi to render assistance to fishing boat.

boat was located 75 nautical miles off Kochi coast and crew were questioned to corroborate with existing situation. All of m were reported to be safe and healthy.

boat was brought to Kochi and handed over to Coastal Police Station (Fort Kochi) on Friday.

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