Gujarat: 14 fishermen rescued by Indian Coast Guard from adrift boat off Valsad coast

SURAT: In a rescue operation undertaken in extreme weather and sea conditions Indian Coast Guard team from Daman airlifted 14 fishermen from a fishing boat Tulsi Devi off Valsad coast on Wednesday.
The boat's engine had failed on Tuesday within a few hours of it sailing and flooding in the boat was reported after which ICG was tasked to rescue.
Preliminary medical examination of the fisherman was done after bringing them to Air Station Daman. The fishermen were provided with first aid treatment. They were provided with refreshments and their safety was conveyed to their next of kin by ICG. The fishermen were later handed over to the officials of fisheries department, Government of Gujarat.
ICG launched a Chetak helicopter from Daman for the rescue of the fishermen.
"At about 11.31 am on Wednesday ICG air station Daman was tasked to render rescue assistance to stranded boat Tulsi Devi which had sailed from Krishnapur fishing harbour Valsad on August 16. The boat reported engine failure and flooding soon after some time of sailing into the sea," an ICG statement said.
"The increasing perilous conditions with swell height of 5-6 meters, strong gusty winds of 20-25 knots and sea state 5 in the area precluded rescue by ship or boats in the area. At 11.46 am the helicopter was launched and operating close to the operational maxima, braving the squally weather and strong winds, the aircraft arrived datum at 11.56 am," said ICG statement.