Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Indian Navy joins search for three missing Kerala fishermen
Three fishermen went missing out at sea after their boats got into trouble on July 31.
Their names are Gautam Krishna, John, and Shijin.
Many rescue teams have been looking for them for ten days.
The Indian Navy joined the search to help.
A Navy ship called INS Kalpeni came with special divers.
The divers use a tool called SONAR to find things underwater using sound.
First, they will look for Gautam Krishna, and then the two other fishermen.
Family members protested because they thought the search was too slow.
A leader named Suresh Gopi promised one mother he would never stop looking for her son.
He said all resources, including fuel from Indian Oil, are ready for the search.
An emergency helipad is also being built to speed up the rescue.
Everyone is hoping the fishermen will be found safely.
The Indian Navy joined search operations on Sunday for three fishermen missing after separate boat mishaps in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala.
Gautam Krishna, John, and Shijin went missing in separate fishing boat mishaps at Neendakara, Vizhinjam, and Muthalappozhi on July 31.
INS Kalpeni sailed from Kochi on Saturday night carrying a specialised Indian Navy diving team equipped with portable SONAR.
Search operations by the Coastal Police, Marine Enforcement Wing, and Coast Guard entered their 10th day on Sunday, with Navy divers beginning at around 10 am.
Union Minister Suresh Gopi pledged continued efforts to trace Gautam Krishna, with Indian Oil supporting the operation and an emergency helipad being prepared at Amritapuri.
- Who
- Three missing fishermen — Gautam Krishna, John, and Shijin — with the Indian Navy, Coastal Police, Marine Enforcement Wing, Coast Guard, and Union Minister Suresh Gopi involved in the response.
- What
- The Indian Navy joined search-and-rescue operations, deploying a specialised diving team with portable SONAR from INS Kalpeni for the missing fishermen.
- When
- The boat mishaps occurred on July 31; the Navy-led search commenced around 10 am on Sunday, the 10th day of the operation.
- Where
- Neendakara, Vizhinjam, and Muthalappozhi in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts, Kerala; INS Kalpeni sailed from Kochi and anchored one nautical mile off Neendakara.
- Why
- The fishermen went missing after their fishing boats capsized in strong waves, and the state government sought Navy assistance after family members protested alleging lapses in the search.
Critics of the response
Government and authorities
Speed of the search operation
Critics of the response
Family members of the missing fishermen protested, alleging lapses in the search operation, and opposition parties attacked the state government over a slow response in tracing the missing persons.
Government and authorities
The state government sought Indian Navy assistance, and Union Minister Suresh Gopi said all resources have been mobilised to intensify the search and that the operation would not be allowed to slow down for any reason.
- Missing fishermen
- Gautam Krishna, John, Shijin
- Date of mishaps
- July 31
- Mishap locations
- Neendakara, Vizhinjam, Muthalappozhi
- Districts
- Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala)
- Navy vessel deployed
- INS Kalpeni
- Search day
- 10th day (Sunday, August 9)
- Search start time
- Around 10 am
- Supporting agencies
- Coastal Police, Marine Enforcement Wing, Coast Guard, Indian Navy
