Thiruvananthapuram, Dec
1: Indian Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard have launched a massive rescue
operation off the Kerala coast on Friday to save hundreds of fishermen stranded
in the rough sea following heavy rains and gusty winds under the influence of
Cyclone 'Ockhi'.
'We could establish contact with about 70 fishermen so far,'
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told newspersons here after a review meeting.
Four columns of Army personnel have been kept in standby in Thiruvananthapuram to meet any eventuality, while seven ships and four aircraft were pressed into rescue operations. However, IAF and Navy could not operate their helicopters due to adverse weather conditions.
The Government machinery was in full swing as the present weather situation would continue for the next 24 hours, he said, adding that 33 fishermen returned to the shore since Thursday evening.
Southern Kerala and neighbouring Kannyakumari district in Tamil Nadu continued to receive heavy rainfall for the second day under the impact of the Ockhi cyclone which was moving towards Lakshadweep.
Four deaths each were reported from South Kerala and Kannyakumari where gusty winds uprooted hundreds of trees and electric poles, destroying scores of houses and blocking vehicular traffic on Thursday.
A tense situation prevailed in Poonthura area from where scores of fishermen were reported missing. Fishermen alleged that there was a serious lapse on the part of the authorities to give proper cyclone warning before they ventured into the sea on Wednesday evening.
The Chief Minister, however, said there was no lapse on the part of the government. 'We got cyclone warning only by noon on Thursday and we took all possible steps,' he added.
'We cannot give the exact number of missing fishermen. We are trying to gather information from the coastal areas. Though the rescue team had spotted 70 fishermen, they were not willing to leave their fishining vessel behind. They demended food so that they can survive. We are making every step to ensure their safety,' he added.
An Indian Coast Guard release said they had deployed ten ships to render assistance to stranded fishermen off Tamil Nadu and Kerala Coasts. In addition Coast Guard Dornier aircraft and helicopter have been carrying out extensive sea-air coordinated search. Out of 26 boats with 113 fishermen reported stranded at sea, rescue of 12 boats with 71 fishermen has been successfully coordinated by ICG in near shore areas, with the assistance of local fisheries authorites. Search and rescue operation is in progress for the balance boats. A report from Kochi said several houses were damaged along the Cherayi beach in sea erosion. UNI
Four columns of Army personnel have been kept in standby in Thiruvananthapuram to meet any eventuality, while seven ships and four aircraft were pressed into rescue operations. However, IAF and Navy could not operate their helicopters due to adverse weather conditions.
The Government machinery was in full swing as the present weather situation would continue for the next 24 hours, he said, adding that 33 fishermen returned to the shore since Thursday evening.
Southern Kerala and neighbouring Kannyakumari district in Tamil Nadu continued to receive heavy rainfall for the second day under the impact of the Ockhi cyclone which was moving towards Lakshadweep.
Four deaths each were reported from South Kerala and Kannyakumari where gusty winds uprooted hundreds of trees and electric poles, destroying scores of houses and blocking vehicular traffic on Thursday.
A tense situation prevailed in Poonthura area from where scores of fishermen were reported missing. Fishermen alleged that there was a serious lapse on the part of the authorities to give proper cyclone warning before they ventured into the sea on Wednesday evening.
The Chief Minister, however, said there was no lapse on the part of the government. 'We got cyclone warning only by noon on Thursday and we took all possible steps,' he added.
'We cannot give the exact number of missing fishermen. We are trying to gather information from the coastal areas. Though the rescue team had spotted 70 fishermen, they were not willing to leave their fishining vessel behind. They demended food so that they can survive. We are making every step to ensure their safety,' he added.
An Indian Coast Guard release said they had deployed ten ships to render assistance to stranded fishermen off Tamil Nadu and Kerala Coasts. In addition Coast Guard Dornier aircraft and helicopter have been carrying out extensive sea-air coordinated search. Out of 26 boats with 113 fishermen reported stranded at sea, rescue of 12 boats with 71 fishermen has been successfully coordinated by ICG in near shore areas, with the assistance of local fisheries authorites. Search and rescue operation is in progress for the balance boats. A report from Kochi said several houses were damaged along the Cherayi beach in sea erosion. UNI
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