Choppy weather including torrential rains compounded by strong winds forced local fishermen from quaint fishing villages including Uttan, Pali and Chowk near Bhayandar to abort their fishing activities. Home to over 700 fishing boats in the region, a large fleet of fishing boats have been anchored at the local harbour as weather conditions have been averse to sailing for two days now. While most fishermen are waiting for smoother conditions before venturing out in the sea, hundreds of fishing boats were forced to pre-maturely wind up their operations mid-way and return to the shores empty handed. The weather suddenly changed for worse as the wind picked up and rolling increased to a dangerous level prompting us to beat a hasty retreat, said a local fisherman who though thankful to God for survival is however upset of the fact that there was no weather warning from authorities.The fishermen said they would not venture into the sea if the same climatic conditions persists. Already reeling under an acute financial crisis, the fisher-folk have suffered losses as a major part of essential commodities, diesel and other supplies they took for a voyage has got wasted. They need to be compensated, says fishing community leader Leo Collaso. It should be noted that a fishing vessel had suffered damage because of the bad weather and sank near the Mumbai coast on Saturday.
Indian National Press (Bombay) Private Limited 2016.