The Andhra Pradesh government has reaffirmed its commitment to crisis management following the tragic fishing boat accident, that claimed six lives, off the Visakhapatnam coast on July 4.State officials highlighted that the response was initiated at the highest priority level, demonstrating a robust coordination between State and Central agencies to support affected families and enhance future maritime safety, according to a joint press conference by the Departments of Fisheries, and Coastal Security on Wednesday.Relief measuresState Fisheries Commissioner Rama Shankar Naik stated that the government acted immediately upon receiving reports, orchestrating a multi-agency operation involving the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Police, and Disaster Management authorities.To provide immediate relief, the government disbursed ₹10 lakh to each of the six affected families, totalling ₹60 lakh, ahead of formal verification. Besides, ₹50,000 was sanctioned for the survivor’s medical care.Mr. Naik confirmed that once standard procedures are finalised, each family will receive an additional ₹10 lakh through ex gratia and the PMMSY-NFDB Group Accident Insurance Scheme.Search protocolsVisakhapatnam Range and Coastal Security IG Gopinath Jetti detailed that search protocols were activated by 10:30 p.m. on July 4, with official alerts sent to Naval and Coast Guard commands by midnight.Despite severe conditions, including waves exceeding four metres, rescue operations continued non-stop for 72 hours until July 8. The survivor, Karri Chinna, was successfully airlifted by a Naval helicopter once weather permitted. Officials underscored that the government has formed a three-member committee to conduct a formal inquiry and further strengthen the emergency response system for future maritime contingencies. Published - July 15, 2026 08:31 pm IST