Indian Coast Guard Rescues 9 Fishermen Off Vizhinjam Coast; Search On for 2 Missing

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, March 9, 2026 — In a high-stakes maritime rescue operation, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship Anagh successfully evacuated nine injured Indian fishermen from the merchant vessel MT Solis, approximately 80 nautical miles off the Vizhinjam coast.

The emergency unfolded on Sunday after the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Mumbai received a distress signal regarding the sinking of an Indian fishing boat carrying 11 crew members off Kanyakumari.

Responding with characteristic speed, the ICG deployed the Anagh to the coordinates provided. Upon arrival, the nine survivors, who had been initially picked up by the passing MT Solis, were transferred to the ICG vessel where they received immediate first aid and stabilization for their injuries.

The rescued fishermen were brought ashore and promptly shifted to the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram for specialized medical treatment. While nine lives were saved through this swift intervention, the mission remains active as two fishermen are still reported missing.

The Indian Coast Guard has intensified its Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the choppy waters off the southern coast, deploying additional assets to locate the remaining crew members.

This operation once again underscores the ICG’s critical role as the primary responder for maritime safety and the protection of the fishing community in the Indian Ocean region.