Cyclone Phailin: 18 fishermen trapped in trawler return home

BHUABNESWAR: Eighteen fishermen, who were trapped in a trawler near Paradip ahead of Cyclone Phailin, have returned safely today.

State Revenue Minister S N Patro said the men jumped from the trawler and swam to safety at Ersama in Jagatsinghpur district.

The fishermen were trapped around 4 km from Paradip. Though they had contacted the Coast Guard, rescue operations could not be conducted as the sea was extremely rough.

Situation in coastal Jagatsinghpur, which bore the brunt of the 1999 super cyclone, is relatively better. Ersama had been among the worst hit blocks in the calamity then.