3 fishermen killed, 9 missing as ship hits boat off Kerala coast

In a major tragedy in the Arabian Sea off Kerala coast, three fishermen were killed and nine went missing when a ship rammed into their boat some 24 nautical miles off the coast of Munambam, a fishing harbor near Kochi, early Tuesday morning. Two fishermen were rescued and were admitted to a hospital in Kochi. The ship, allegedly an Indian oil tanker, had sailed away without stopping to rescue the fishermen.

Operations to rescue the nine missing fishermen were continuing even on Tuesday evening under the leadership of the Navy and Coast Guard. The boat, Oceanus owned by Kochi resident PV Sivan, was destroyed completely in the impact of the collision, according to the rescued fishermen and sources in the Navy and Coast Guard.

The boat was carrying 14 fishermen, 11 of whom were from Tamil Nadu, two from West Bengal and one Keralite, Shyju from Malyankara near Munambam. Kerala Fisheries Minister J Mercykutty Amma said the incident had taken place in the international shipping channel 24 nautical miles off the coast of Munambam.

According to Tamil Nadu native Edwin who was rescued from the sea, the ship had hit them from behind and the boat split into two and sank immediately.