Puri: Ten fishermen from Andhra Pradesh were rescued after their fishing boat became stranded in the sea off the Puri coast following an engine failure, officials said.

The fishing vessel, bearing registration number IND-AP-V5-MM-872, had set out from Kakinada Fishing Harbour in Andhra Pradesh for a fishing expedition when it developed technical problems at sea.

According to officials, the boat's engine became inoperative, while its anchor also failed to function, leaving the vessel adrift about 2 to 3 kilometres off the coast near the Taj Hotel in Puri.

Odisha Police, nearby fishing vessel coordinate timely rescue operation

After receiving information about the stranded boat, the Superintendent of Police directed immediate rescue operations.

Police teams from Baliapanda Police Station and Penthakata Marine Police coordinated the rescue effort and established contact with nearby fishing vessels operating in the area.

Subsequently, a fishing boat from Visakhapatnam reached the stranded vessel and safely rescued all 10 fishermen.

Officials said all the rescued fishermen were safe and have since returned to their homes. The fishermen are residents of Chintapalli village in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district.

Authorities said necessary arrangements will be made to tow the disabled fishing boat to a safe location.

The prompt rescue operation ensured that no casualties were reported despite the vessel being left stranded in the sea due to the mechanical failure.