Cyclone Murasu: Four bodies of missing Tamil Nadu fishermen recovered; five still missing

Four bodies of Tamil Nadu fishermen who went missing after their boat capsized off the Andhra Pradesh coast during Cyclone Murasu have been recovered officials said on Thursday reported the PTINine fishermen were aboard the boat when it capsized amid strong winds and rough sea conditions on November 3 While four bodies have been recovered search operations are continuing to trace the remaining five missing fishermenPrakasam District Collector P Raja Babu confirmed the recovery and said the bodies were being shifted to the mortuary of the local Government General Hospital GGH the news agency reportedThree bodies wash ashore one recovered during searchOf the four bodies recovered three washed ashore at Kothapatnam while the fourth was retrieved during search operationsThe deceased fishermen were among nine Tamil Nadu fishermen who had gone missing after their boat capsized while sailing along the Andhra Pradesh coast according to the PTIThe Collector said all nine fishermen had been identified and that their names and photographs had been shared by the Tamil Nadu governmentThe recovered bodies will be handed over to Tamil Nadu officials after the completion of the necessary formalitiesFishermen moved boats to safety ahead of cycloneAccording to Raja Babu the fishermen had ventured into the sea from Chennai on October 29 As Cyclone Murasu approached they were advised to move their boats to safer locations as per the PTIFollowing the advisory four boats were anchored along the Andhra Pradesh coast Three were stationed at Ramayapatnam Port and one at Nizampatnam PortThe Collector said Tamil Nadu officials had confirmed on November 2 that all the fishermen and their boats were safe at their respective portsBoat capsized while fishermen were moving to another portHowever on November 3 nine fishermen aboard the boat anchored at Nizampatnam began travelling towards Ramayapatnam to join their colleaguesThe fishermen reportedly started the journey without informing either the Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu authoritiesThe boat encountered severe weather conditions and strong winds as Cyclone Murasu intensified It subsequently capsized leaving all nine fishermen missing as per the PTIThe Coast Guard was alerted and requested to launch rescue operations following the incidentSearch operations continue for five missing fishermenThe district administration is continuing efforts to trace the remaining five fishermen Raja Babu said he had spoken to Tamil Nadu officials who were travelling to Andhra PradeshArrangements were also being made to bring the capsized boat back to the coastThe Collector said search operations would continue until the remaining fishermen were tracedSevere Cyclonic Storm Murasu crossed the south Andhra Pradesh coast early on Tuesday between Nellore and Narasapur close to Ongole causing extensive damageThe cyclone brought strong winds and adverse sea conditions along the coast disrupting fishing activities and prompting authorities to advise fishermen to move their boats to safer locationswith PTI inputs