Hamlet appeals for helicopter search to find missing fishermen

Nagapattinam, Feb 3 (PTI) The leaders of a fishing hamlethere appealed to the state government today for intensivesearch by helicopter to trace five fishermen who have beenmissing since they went to sea on Jan 28.

The leaders of the Akkaraipettai panchayat said five oftheir fishermen who ventured into the sea in a fibreglass boatshould have returned to the shore by Jan 31.

Since they did not return till today noon, localfishermen have commenced search operations in mechanisedboats. The coast guard have also commenced search operations.

Meanwhile, the panchayat leaders today appealed to theTamil Nadu government to arrange for search operations throughhelicopter.

Elsewhere in the district, thousands of fishermen did notventure into the sea as the water remained quite rough withhigh tides.