T’puram: Three fishermen who ventured into the sea from Vizhinjam for fishing have gone missing. An extensive search operation involving multiple agencies is on.The missing fishermen are Robinson (55), Sanu (45), both natives of Vettucaud, and Babu (40) of Valiyaveli.According to officials at Vizhinjam fisheries station control room, the fishermen had set out to sea at 3pm on Saturday in a boat owned by Libin. They were expected to return by 6am on Sunday but failed to do so.Search operations were launched immediately after the fishermen were reported missing. Officials said that Azhimala Sivan, one of the hired search boats, conducted searches till afternoon, while another boat, Kedarnath, continued the search till late at night.Apart from the hired boats, teams comprising relatives of the missing fishermen, locals, the coast guard and coastal police are also taking part in the search operation.Police officials said the sea current is moving southwards, and therefore, search efforts have been focused toward Kanyakumari and Kulachal regions.Vizhinjam coastal police and fisheries officials have also written to the district collector seeking assistance of Indian Navy in the search operation. The letter has requested deployment of naval assets, including helicopters, to intensify efforts to trace the missing fishermen.
