An atmosphere of anxiety and concern gripped residents in and around Talpona Fishing Jetty after four fishermen went missing at sea for several hours before being safely rescued on Tuesday evening. The incident triggered a coordinated search operation involving the Talpona Coastal Police, Coast Guard authorities, fisheries officials, and fishing associations across state borders.
The fishermen were eventually traced in coastal waters near Karnataka and brought back safely to Talpona, where medical teams were kept on standby.
Fishermen Left for Overnight Fishing
The incident began on Monday at around 4 pm when four fishermen — Tandel Sandeep Arondekar, Vijendra Arondekar, Aniket Govekar, all residents of Talpona, and Anthony J B Rebello of Galgibaga — departed from the Talpona Fishing Jetty in a fibre boat for overnight fishing.
At around 2.15 am on Tuesday, one of the fishermen contacted the boat owner, informing him of a good catch and indicating that they would return to the jetty within the next one-and-a-half hours.
Delay Raises Alarm at Jetty
When the fishing boat failed to arrive at the expected time, concerns began to mount. Attempts to contact the fishermen on their mobile phones proved unsuccessful. After waiting for several hours, the boat owner and another person ventured into the sea early in the morning to search for the missing boat.
As the boat still did not return, anxious family members lodged a missing complaint at the Talpona Coastal Police Station at around 7.45 am.
Search Extended Across State Waters
Following the complaint, Talpona Coastal Police Station PI Theron D’Costa said alerts were immediately sent to all coastal police stations, the Coast Guard, fisheries department, fishing boat associations, and coastal authorities of neighbouring states.
“When the boat could not be traced in Goan waters, the search was extended to Karnataka, and officials in Karwar were alerted through the Coast Guard,” PI D’Costa said.
Fishermen Traced in Karnataka Waters
Later in the afternoon, police received information that a fishing boat with four crew members had been sighted in Karnataka waters. The fishermen had reportedly taken fuel, ice, and water after selling a portion of their catch.
Once mobile network connectivity was restored, police were able to establish contact. The fishermen informed authorities that they had earlier run out of fuel and had drifted off course.
Safe Return and Medical Examination
Despite resuming their journey, the fishermen missed their navigation and sailed past several coastal villages before being traced by a police speedboat. All four were brought back to the Talpona jetty shortly after sunset.
An ambulance with a doctor and nurse was kept ready at the jetty. The fishermen underwent medical examinations and were later reunited with their relieved families, bringing an end to hours of uncertainty.
