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Massive search on for fishermen
No clarity on exact number of missing persons even as 50 ships, copters continue operation.
By
migrator
migrator
Madurai
Even as close to 50 ships and some helicopters of the IAF are on a continuous mission to rescue the missing fishermen, there is no clarity on the exact number of persons missing from the TN side.
While Father Churchill, General Secretary, South Asian Fishermen Fraternity(SAFF), who led a protest in Chinnathurai on Saturday, citing locals, claimed that 3,000 fishermen were missing and 67 feared dead, Electricity Minister, P Thangamani and Revenue Minister RB Udayakumar, who are co-ordinating the rescue and relief measures in Kumari, maintained that only 86 were missing and 15 have been rescued by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG).
As a majority of Kanniyakumari fishermen go for deep sea fishing and stay in the waters for more than 30 days,they didn’t know about the approaching Ockhi, locals said. Residents from various hamlets criticising the slow pace of rescue operation, blocked the road at Chinnathurai and demanded the Centre to expedite the rescue operation. Congress MLA of Killiyur Rajesh Kumar also joined the protesters.
They fear that many could have drifted to several uninhabited islets around Lakshadweep island. Information obtained from GPS devices of the missing fishermen had been handed over to officials, Father Churchill said, adding, so far, no action has been taken.
Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar at Thoothukudi said that 73 fishermen in six boats have been rescued so far and INS Jamuna and INS Rajali were continuing search operations. Eighty-five fishermen in 33 boats were yet to return to coast, he added.
No clarity on missing fishermen?
Interestingly, the exact number of missing and rescued fishermen, who ventured into the sea during the cyclone Ockhi, according to a senior official, remains hazy as dynamics keep changing every hour. Leader of Opposition MK Stalin said thousands of fishermen were stranded in the sea and fighting for their lives.
ICG rescues 198 fishers off western coast
The ICG has rescued 198 fishermen and 18 fishing boats belonging from TN off the western coast following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ockhi. “Eighteen fishing boats and 198 fishermen from TN have taken safe shelter in Lakshadweep and Minicoy Group of Islands (western coast),” an official release said. Meanwhile, over 900 Kerala fishermen were rescued off Maharashtra coast. Of 68 fishing boats, 66 are from Kerala and two from Tamil nadu, officials said.
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