A 50-year-old fisherman went missing after he allegedly fell overboard from a fishing boat (INDAPV5MM877) approximately 11 nautical miles off the Visakhapatnam coast in the early hours of Thursday, August 20.According to the Marine Police, the missing fisherman, identified as Appanna, was part of an eight-member crew that had ventured into the sea on August 16.The incident reportedly occurred around 12.15 a.m. on Thursday as the boat was returning to shore. Crew members said that Appanna had gone to the rear side of the vessel to fetch salt used for preserving the fish catch when they heard a sudden splash. On checking, they found him missing.The boat owner’s brother alerted the authorities shortly after the incident, prompting the launch of a joint search operation immediately.District Collector M. Abhishikt Kishore reviewed the situation and spoke directly with Coast Guard officials, directing them to step up rescue efforts and deploy specialised assets.A Coast Guard helicopter was pressed into service to search the offshore area. The aerial search complements the search efforts by the multiple vessels already in the water of the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, and a private vessel in locating the missing person.State Home Minister V. Anitha also stock of the developments, and directed the Fisheries Department, Marine Police, and Coast Guard to utilise all available resources.This incident comes in the wake of growing concerns over safety at sea following a series of maritime mishaps off the North Coastal Andhra stretch, including a vessel that capsized earlier in July off the coast of Visakhapatnam that left six fishermen missing during rough weather conditions. Fishing associations have called for strict adherence to onboard safety protocols.Officials have urged the fishing community to exercise heightened caution while venturing out, as the coordinated search for Appanna continues off the coast Published - August 20, 2026 07:56 pm IST