Twenty Indian fishermen reported "missing"

Rameswaram Island, Tamil Nadu, Aug 19 (UNI) Tension prevailed in the coastal hamlets here as 20 fishermen, who went out to sea in mechanized boats for fishing were reported ''missing,'' today.

Official sources said a group of fishermen hailing from the Island town set sail from Rameswaram Jetty yesterday morning in 615 mechanized fishing boats.

Except five, the other boats returned to the shore this morning.

This caused anxious moments among fisherfolk.

Tamil Nadu fisheries department was alerted about the missing fishermen.

A salvage team also ventured into the sea in a mechanized boat this afternoon to trace the missing fishermen, following a search order from the authorities.

The fishermen were yet to return to the shores till late this evening, when last reports came in.

It was not known whether the fishermen were stranded in mid sea due to any technical snag in their boats or arrested by the Sri Lankan navy.

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