Most missing fishermen in AP return home

Most of the fishermen reported missing in Andhra Pradesh in the aftermath of the state's coastal regions being battered by tsunamis have returned safely and only 30 are still untraced.

The death toll, however, rose to 104 in the six coastal districts that bore the brunt of the nature's fury.

District and state officials heaved a sigh of relief when most of the 212 fishermen reported missing returned safely by Tuesday evening.

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Meanwhile, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard helicopters and boats mounted search operations to trace the still missing fishermen. The Eastern Naval Command has also pressed INS Dega into service for relief and rescue operations.

As per the Department of Disaster Management, the district-wise death toll in the state is: 36 in Krishna, including the 35 deaths on the Manginapudi beach, 35 in Prakasam, 20 in Nellore, 8 in West Godavari, 3 in East Godavari and 2 in Guntur.

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In all, 118 villages were affected by the calamity. As many as 6,125 fishing boats were damaged and 47,370 fishing nets lost in the devastation. Rural roads and 1,500 houses/huts were damaged.

The authorities distributed 25 kg of free rice to each of the about 1.3 lakh fishermen families affected by the tsunami.