THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The death toll in Ockhi cylone in the state rose to seven even as Navy and Coast guard carried out a massive operation named "Operation Synergy" through the day on Friday to rescue 218 fishermen. Some 38 missing boats were also traced. Five deaths took place in Thiruvannathapuram incuding the two reported on Thursday, one each in Kollam and Kasargod. Christy Silvadasan, 51, Poonthura, Xavier Louis, 57, Poonthura died on Friday. The Chief Minister’s office said 60 fishermen were rescued by a Japanese container ship. There are 40 more fishermen who are reportedly missing for the search operations are continuing.
Having braved 48 hours mid sea fighting a battle for life, many of rescued fishermen had symptoms of hypothermia like drunken stupor, sleepiness, shivering, blurred speech, weak pulse and low blood pressure. Others were finding difficult to walk. The fishermen rescued by navy helicopters were brought to technical area of Airport. They were put on stretchers and rushed to the waiting 108 ambulances.
About 20 persons were admitted to the special ward at Trivandrum Medical College and the rest at general hospital Kollam. Despite rough weather navy, coast guard and air force carried out rescue operations through the day on Friday. Navy personnel engaged in rescue operations faced a peculiar situation when some fishermen refused to board the ships saying they cannot abandon their boats. They demanded water and food to survive. The fact that despite facing threat to life fishermen refused to leave their boats spoke volumes about their financial and livelihood insecurity. Such is the economic and financial insecurity that they face.
Warships INS Shardul, INS Nireekshak, INS Kalpeni, INS Kabra and seven other naval ships, two helicopters, dornier aircraft, two ships and two helicopters of Coast Guard took part in the operations. The naval operations were carried out under Southern Naval command chief R.J. Nadkarni, commando Deepak Kumar and captain Sudeep Naik while Coast Guard rescue operations were led by Commandant B.K. Varghese. Authorities been asked to concentrate on rescue operations in Thiruvananthapuram district's Vizhinjam, Adimalathura, Poovar, Pozhiyoor, Puthiayathura, Thumba and in Kollam — Paravur , Thanaksseri, Neendakara , Mayyanad and Kochi. Heart rending scenes were witnessed in Poonthura, Vizhanjam and other coastal areas with family members of missing fishermen pleading for help. Most of hte women folk and children have been waiting for the past 48 hours without batting an eye lid for the safe return of their dear ones.
Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran took a sortie in a navy helicopter 50 km off coast to assess rescue operations. The helicopter boarded by the minister rescued six fishermen. About 63 persons returned to safety without any external help. The state government had spoken to Director General of shipping to seek help from merchant navy ships moving in the area. According to revenue authorities, 56 houses were completely damaged and 799 houses partially in the cyclone affected areas. About 30 relief camps have been opened including 18 in Thiruvananthapuram district and the rest in Kollam, Alapuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur. As many as 491 families have been accommodated in these camps. The government announced Rs 5,000 per head to those admitted in hospitals. Free ration will be supplied to coastal population in Thiruvannathapuram, Kolam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargod, the Chief Minister’s office said.
