Nine TN fishers adrift in SL waters rescued in joint ops after five days

Engine stalled in turbulent sea; SL Navy, fishers helped us until rescue arrived, says fisherman

- ANTONY FERNANDO @Nagapattinam

A group of nine Tamil Nadu fishers, stranded in Sri Lankan waters for five days after their fishing boat suffered an engine failure, was rescued in a cross-border operation involving authorities of both nations. Their boat was towed back to Nagapattinam by another fishing vessel on Tuesday.

The group, led by S Selvamani from Nagore, had ventured into the sea on December 29 aboard Venkatammal, a mechanised deep-sea fishing boat. Accompanying him were two fishermen from Vanavanmahadevi and six others from Nayakkarkuppam in Mayiladuthurai district.