Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram: About 952 fishermen, the majority of them from Kerala, reached Maharashtra safely in 68 fishing boats late on Saturday evening, bringing miraculous relief to relatives grieving over their dear ones missing in the seas after Cyclone Ockhi outbreak on November 30. The news was based on information given by Maharashtra Chief Mini-ster Devendra Fadnavis. “68 fishing boats have reached Maharashtra of which 66 are from Kerala and two from Tamil Nadu with a total of 952 fishermen on board. All are safe. Maharashtra will completely look after everyone till weather permits them to go back,” he tweeted. According to a tweet by defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the fishermen belonged to places near Kozhikode and were caught in the cyclone. Meanwhile, Ockhi toll mounted to 13 with five more bodies being recovered from sea on Saturday.
Earlier, the state government had claimed that only 126-odd fishermen were missing. The sad fact is some 100-off fishers who had ventured out from Thiruvananthapuram on November 29 were still out in the cold in outer seas and it was unlikely they were boats that landed in Maharashtra. After the Maharasthra Chief Minister’s tweet, it is now clear that the number of people who are still missing could be much higher. The Lakshadweep administrator said that the sea is still rough and wind lashing in high speed despite the deadline for the cyclone to cross the islands has passed. Lakshadweep battled Cyclone Ockhi late on Saturday evening too with heavy winds, rain and rough sea battering the archipelago. No loss of life was reported from any of the islands so far, though it was marooned. Lakshadweep administrator Farooq Khan told this newspaper that a total of 1,000 people have been moved to safety on Friday and Saturday.
“A total of 172 fishermen in 22 boats belonging to Kerala and Tamil Nadu were rescued. They will be taken to the mainland once the cyclone subsides,” Mr Farooq Khan said and added that some more boats from the main land were sighted on Saturday and they too will be rescued subsequently. “We are prepared and don’t want to take any chances. We have also ensured that all tourists on the island are safe,” Mr Khan said.
He said that all the islands have come in the line of the cyclone though the hardest hit is Minicoy, Kalpeni and Kavaratti. “Over 60 boats including fishing boats have been totally destroyed. We are yet to make a full assessment of the damage as the cyclone is continuing,” he said. He said that the Navy is assisting the administration in relief and rescue. “One Naval ship is near Kalpeni and is in rescue mission including fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Kerala while another one has reached Minicoy. Two more ships are expected to reach on Sunday. They are supplying food, medicine and cloth and the ship near Kalpeni will move to Kavaratti,” Mr Khan said and added that people of the island are taken care of by the administration.
He said that the communication network has withstood the cyclone. “That’s why I am able to talk to you on the mainland. People are able to text in Whatsapp also,” he added. Meanwhile there are complaints that many people from Lakshadweep are stranded mainly in Kochi and Kozhikode with both air and ship services to the island suspended due to the inclement weather. Some of them wanting to go by ship are even struggling for means to get food and medicine. “They are stranded in their lodges with money in hand has exhausted. Some are near the KSRTC boat jetty in Kochi. There would be at least 4000 people stranded in Kochi alone,” said Paul Manvettam, a social worker. He added that he has already sent a message to the Chief Minister asking him to help them. “The Ernakulam district administration should intervene to help them,” he added.
However, Mr Khan said that he was yet to get specific complaints in this regard. “We have full-fledged offices and facilities on the mainland and they need to contact those offices,” he added.
Meanwhile, Navy and Coast Guard search and rescue continued on Saturday, bringing ashore 450 fishermen in all. Coastal folks furious over the fate of those still clinging to life in outer seas, blocked roads at different places in south Kerala demanding speedier rescue measures. They feared any further delay in reaching help to fishermen, fatigued by hypothermia, will lead to more casualties. Some launched their own rescue mission and ensured a few were on board the Coast Guard rescue vessel. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has asked the Centre to declare Ockhi as “national calamity.” Chief Secretary has sent a formal memorandum to the Centre. Earlier opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala had made a similar demand.
Of the five bodies recovered today four were from recovered from Vizhinjam area and one from Shanghumugham. The bodies retrieved by Navy during rescue operations, were sent to medical college hospital here. The victims are yet to be identified. Coast Guard commander (Westeren Seaboard) ADG K Natrjan met chief minister and briefed him about the rescue operations being carried out by its vessels and helicopters. Coast guard rescued 15 persons at Vizhinjam, Navy helicopters brought eight persons back to safety at Kochi and four came back on their own at Munambam.
The Chief Minister who came under criticism for not visiting the affected coastal area, called on the survivors at the Thiruvanantharpuam medical college on Saturday. He thanked the helath staff including doctors, nurses, PG students, house surgeons and attendants for handling the situation efficiently. The doctors at the medical college hospital have decided to keep all survivors for a minimum of 72 hours in hospital. Those having severe symptoms of hypothermia will have to continue for more days.
