Navy rescues 03 Tamil Nadu fishermen in distress -

Thalaimannar Sri Lanka Navy rescued three Tamil Nadu fishermen, whose fishing trawler had washed ashore south of Thalaimannar, today (13th February 2008) around 6 a.m. They had left for fishing from Mandapam, which is located 15 nautical miles from Dhanushkodi, Tamil Nadu, India.
The naval personnel of the Thalaimannar Naval Base, upon observing the ill-fated Indian trawler running aground, had rushed assistance to the Indian fishermen who had suffered multiple fractures and injuries due to the ordeal at sea. They were immediately taken to the sickbay of the naval base and were attended to by a naval doctor on duty. Having given them medical treatment, food and refreshment, the measures were taken with the assistance of the Thalaimannar Police to transfer the injured to the Mannar government hospital for further medical treatment. According to the injured Indian fishermen, five of them had left for fishing from Mandapam, which is located 15 nautical miles from Dhanushkodi, on board the fishing trawler, "Jehovah Jireh" bearing the number TN 10 MFB. Their engine had stalled in mid sea and their trawler had begun to drift. Attempts had been made by another Indian fishing trawler to rescue the ill-fated trawler. Having failed its rescue attempt, the Indian trawler, which had come to their assistance, had left them taking two of their fellow fishermen on board. The trawler's starboard side and its superstructure are badly damaged.
The rescued Indian fishermen are Leon Martin (25) of Thangachchimadan, Rajnagar, Sunil Selvam (19) of Mandapam, Ramnadampuram and Udavar Nagaraja of No. 39, Mandapam, Ramnadanpuram.