The tragic fate of two fishermen who went missing following a collision between their fishing boat and an Indian Navy submarine has been illuminated with the recovery of their bodies. The incident occurred in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Goa and Maharashtra, on November 21, when their vessel, named “Marthoma”, was involved in the maritime accident.
According to statements from the Indian Navy, a coordinated search effort was launched and involved both the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard. Over the course of a week, these teams worked diligently to locate the wreckage of the sunken fishing boat on the ocean floor. As part of this extensive search operation, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) also provided crucial assistance, which ultimately led to the recovery of the bodies, found in proximity to the wreckage.
The vessel was reportedly operating approximately 70 nautical miles northwest of Goa at the time of the collision. While it was a harrowing event, it’s noteworthy that eleven out of the twelve crew members aboard the “Marthoma” were rescued immediately after the collision, which reflects the prompt response of the rescue teams following the incident.
This recovery brings closure to a tragic event that has raised concerns over maritime safety and the interactions between fishing vessels and military naval operations in the busy waters off the Indian coast. The Indian Navy has stated their commitment to further investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident to ensure such tragedies are mitigated in the future.
