Visakhapatnam, Nov 20 (UNI) In a ghastly fire accident, 40 mechanized fishing boats worth about Rs 25 crore were destroyed in a fire accident at fishing harbour here after midnight on Sunday.
Fishermen told the media that flames erupted in an anchored boat and the flames spread to other boats within minutes.
Fire tenders of Visakhapatnam Port Authority rushed there and extinguished the flames. According to fire officials, 40 mechanized fishing boats worth about Rs 25 crore were gutted in the mishap.
Some of the boats came to the fishing harbour after completing fishing and were anchored. The boats contained fish worth lakhs of rupees. The boats were also gutted along with the fish, the fishermen said.
Some of the fishermen sleep in the boats during the night time and a search was launched if anyone was struck in the flames. Significantly the major fire accident took place in the fishing harbour when the arrangements were made to organize World Fisheries Day on Tuesday.
Responding to the destruction of 40 mechanized fishing boats worth crores of rupees, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed shock over the fire accident at the Visakhapatnam fishing harbour and ordered an inquiry into the mishap.
The Chief Minister directed Fisheries Minister Dr. S. Appala Raju to visit the accident site and told the officials to extend necessary financial support to the fishermen who lost their boats in the fire.
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