Chennai: This is surely one search operation that the fishersmen would remember for long. The Indian Coast Guard, which is involved in Op Sahayam, will take to the deep sea to trace and rescue the missing fishermen. And, probably for the first time, the defence vessel will take a few fishermen from Cyclone Ockhi-ravaged Kanyakumari district in their mission, thanks to the efforts of Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan.
The ICG, which had deployed a large number of ships and aircraft and joined the Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Air Force (IAF) in rescue operations looking for stranded fishermen in the Lakshadweep Sea, will take about seven Kanyakumari fishermen with them. Following a request from Mr. Radhakrishnan, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had agreed to the ICG taking up the task in the deep sea.
“I am thankful to @DefenceMinIndia Smt @nsitharaman ji for the arrangements (Vaibhav ship) to search for missing fishermen in the deep sea. Our Kanyakumari #Chinnathurai 5 #Thoothur 2 fishermen travelling along with our @IndiaCoastGuard crews for this operation”, Mr. Radhakrishnan tweeted on Sunday. Following the arrangement, a fishermen delegation under Rajesh of Thoothur called on Mr. Radhakrishnan in Nagercoil (Kanyakumari district) and thanked him for his efforts in taking the initiative to trace and rescue the stranded men.
“Received a phone call from Hon.Min. @PonnaarrBJP. On his suggestion, have directed@IndiaCoastGuard to have fishermen from Thoothur on board their vessel, while on Search & Rescue operat ions. @indiannavy @Office OfOPS @DefenceMinIndia@BJP4TamilNadu”, the Defence Minister tweeted.
