Rs 35.40 crore Ockhi relief distributed

On the occasion, kin of 25 fisherfolk families were ferried to the city from the southern coastal districts, and they collected Rs 10 lakh each as the first instalment from the CM, during an event at the Secretariat.

The rest of the money would be held in joint account with the next of kin and the Assistant Director of Fisheries for six months and would be released to the family with interest after the Collector confirms the finality of the missing persons.

The relief was extended to as many as 177 families. Kanniyakumari topped the list with 139 fishermen having gone missing during the devastating cyclone in November-December last year, followed by Cuddalore and Nagapattinam with 19 fishermen and 15 fishermen missing. In addition, kin of three who went missing from Thoothukudi also figured in the list. 

“Though the storm’s impact was maximum in Kanniyakumari, the fishermen from other neighbouring districts too were affected by it,” a release said.

The CM noted that 27 fishermen from Thoothukudi, Nagapattinam and Kanniyakumari had been killed, and solatium of Rs 20 lakh amounting to Rs 5.4 crore had already been distributed to the bereaved families through the Collectors. 

Referring to the measures taken by the government when cyclone Ockhi hit, Palaniswami said as many as 3,506 fisherfolk, 24 country boats and 264 mechanised boats were rescued.