Multi-agency search enters 10th day near Muthalapozhi and Vizhinjam
Search and rescue operations for two fishermen reported missing off the coast of Thiruvananthapuram entered their 10th day on Sunday, with the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, Coastal Police and Marine Enforcement teams intensifying efforts despite rough sea conditions.
Officials said a Navy unit aboard INS Kalpeni reached Muthalapozhi on Sunday to join the ongoing operation for 32-year-old Shijin, who went missing while fishing near the breakwaters and rocky outcrops at Muthalapozhi. The search for 54-year-old John Mathias, a native of Puluvila who disappeared from Vizhinjam, continued in the southern sector.
- Agencies involved: Indian Navy (INS Kalpeni, scuba team), Indian Coast Guard (ship, Dornier aircraft, helicopter), Coastal Police, Marine Enforcement and Fisheries department boats.
- Key search zones: rocky formations and breakwaters adjoining the estuary at Muthalapozhi; southern coastal sector off Vizhinjam towards Kanniyakumari.
- Operational challenges: strong waves and currents restricting diver access to certain sections; rough sea preventing safe entry into some areas.
According to official sources, a six-member Navy scuba team commenced searches around 7.30 a.m. on Sunday, concentrating on the rocky formations and breakwaters adjoining the estuary. Divers cleared all zones that could be accessed safely but refrained from entering sections where waves were breaking violently against the rocks.
“Divers could enter the section only if the waves subside sufficiently to make the operation safe,” officials indicated.
The Coast Guard sustained aerial surveillance over the coastal stretch using a Dornier aircraft and a helicopter. A Coast Guard ship was reported to be conducting a 72-hour search operation towards Kanniyakumari since Saturday, with another vessel expected to join the effort. Four boats, including ones from the Fisheries department, were deployed for surface searches, and a marine ambulance carrying Marine Enforcement officials, Coastal Police personnel and lifeguards left Vizhinjam for Muthalapozhi at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday.
| Asset | Role | Area |
|---|---|---|
| INS Kalpeni (Navy) | Scuba team, surface support | Muthalapozhi (breakwaters, rocky formations) |
| Coast Guard ship(s) | Sea search, extended 72-hour patrol | Towards Kanniyakumari, southern sector |
| Dornier aircraft & helicopter | Aerial surveillance | Coastal stretch from Vizhinjam to Muthalapozhi |
| Fisheries boats, marine ambulance | Local surface search; medical & rescue response | Vizhinjam–Muthalapozhi corridor |
Officials emphasised that while teams have covered areas deemed safe for entry, several critical sections remain inaccessible due to strong currents and breaking waves. The decision to commit divers to those zones hinges on a measurable reduction in wave intensity to ensure diver safety.
Local authorities and enforcement agencies have also coordinated to widen the sweep pattern, combining surface vessels with aerial reconnaissance to cover stretches that are hazardous for underwater teams. A Coast Guard ship operating from the southern sector was reported to be maintaining a continuous search window of 72 hours, while another vessel was expected to join to expand coverage towards Kanniyakumari.
The prolonged search has unsettled fishing communities along the southern coast, who regularly navigate these waters. Officials said further deployment of assets would depend on evolving sea and weather conditions, and any improvement in wave patterns would allow divers to resume work in previously inaccessible rocky zones.
Meanwhile, state and district-level agencies continue to coordinate logistical and operational support. The joint effort underscores the challenges posed by Kerala's coastal topography — particularly the combination of shallow estuaries, breakwaters and rocky outcrops that complicate underwater search operations during rough seas.
Authorities urged local boat operators and residents to refrain from entering hazardous sea zones until the search is completed and sea conditions improve.
