143 fishing boats damaged in Gundamala village of Prakasam district due to cyclone Murasu

The fishing industry has suffered significant damage in the coastal village of Gundamala, located in the Kothapatnam mandal of Andhra Pradesh's Prakasam district, due to cyclone Murasu. According to a report by The Hindu, 143 out of 164 fishing boats in the village were damaged due to the strong winds and heavy rain caused by the cyclone. This damage includes 15 large boats and 25 medium-sized boats.

The local fishermen's fibre boats were anchored amidst mangrove forests, where the sea water meets a small area of the Buckingham Canal. Due to the force of the winds blowing during the cyclone, these boats collided with each other, resulting in damage. Currently, these boats are stuck amidst the mangrove vegetation.

It is becoming difficult for the fishermen to retrieve the boats as operations are being delayed due to heavy machinery being used for installing electricity poles. Local fishermen informed that operators of earth-moving equipment (earth movers) are charging ₹10,000 to extract each large boat and ₹6,000 for each small boat.

Approximately 450 fishermen reside in Gundamala village. Fisheries department officials have not yet conducted a statistical assessment of the total value of the damage incurred. Fishermen are making efforts to repair the damage caused by the cyclone.

A mix of mangrove forests and the Buckingham Canal is seen in this area, where fishermen were using this area to keep their boats safe. The wind and rain under the influence of cyclone Murasu have directly impacted this economic activity.