CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday said 35 of the 40 fishermen from the state who "drifted" into Sri Lankan waters following adverse weather conditions and wind power were brought back by the Indian Coast Guard to Mandapam, after they were released by the court in the Island republic.
"One of the five fishermen of a boat that started out of Pudhupattinam near Thanjavur has been rescued and brought to Rameswaram, another is feared drowned, while searches are on to locate three others," an official release said.
Between December 18 and 29 last year, 40 fishermen in 10 boats had ventured into the seas from different coastal districts of the state and were pushed to Delft, Analai and Mullai isles of Sri Lankan waters by adverse weather conditions, it said.
35 fishermen in nine boats were handed over by the Sri Lankan Navy to the nearby police stations, the release said. The other boat from Thanjavur district sank near Analai isle.
Following chief minister Jayalalithaa’s intervention, and the follow up of Tamil Nadu government along with the ministry of foreign affairs and the Indian Embassy in Sri Lanka, the rescued fishermen were released by the local court there "without being made to undergo any procedures," it said.
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