Church wants Narendra Modi to visit Cyclone Ockhi-hit Thiruvananthapuram
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Regional Latin Catholic Council estimates that 201 fishermen from Thiruvananthapuram are still missing in Cyclone Ockhi and urged the Centre to intensify Navy and Air Force search and rescue operations. In all, 375 people had gone for fishing from the Thiruvananthapuram coastal villages-Pozhiyur to Mambally- and they had set out in plywood craft and bigger vessels. Of those on plywood craft, 108 men had returned and about 50 drowned. Thirteen bodies remain unidentified, vicar general Eugene Pereira told media persons here on Tuesday.
Other council members at the press conference were vice-president Shaji George, secretary Antony Albert, youth commission secretary, Fr Paul Sonny and LCYM State president Immanuel Michael. Fishers, who had set out in bigger vessels, had provisions lasting a fortnight to one month. Many had gone in trawling vessels from Thuthoor, Kolllam and Kochi. Their GPS had gone awry in strong winds and provisions got destroyed. Engines developed snags. Some of the fishermen on these vessels had probably reached Laksadweep, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
There was no estimate of those drifting in the deep seas and how many of them are dead or alive. But relatives on shore hope the men would return. But as days pass by, the condition of those left in outer seas would become extremely pathetic. Latest figures of the missing are as follows: Thumba 5, Kochuveli 2, Vettucaud 5, Valiyathura 5, Cheriyathumba 2, Poonthura 29, Vizhinjam 29, Adimalathura 21, Pulluvila 20, Pallom 5, Kochuthura 6, Poovar 7, Paruthiyur 45 and South Kollengode 21.
Demand for 1,000-cr package: The cyclone havoc should be declared a national disaster with a relief package of Rs 1,000 crore. The Prime Minister should visit affected areas and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan convene an all-party meet. The all-party delegation to New Delhi should have fishermen’s representatives. The council urged all sections of people to join in and extend relief to affected families. Norms should be relaxed to reach aid and compensation to the affected people. The bereaved should be justly compensated. Actual loses should be covered in case of those who had lost boats and other fishing gear.
The council asked the State Government to submit proposals to the Centre to initiate steps to reduce the impact of worsening erosion in Vizhinjam and Kochi container terminal areas. The council also demanded more relief and facilities for those confined to crammed camps besides a rehab package for those who had their lost dwellings. It is a serious rights violation that people continued to live in relief camps for years. The council wanted 20 percent jobs in Coast Guard to coastal people. December 10 human rights day would be dedicated to the memory of cyclone victims and as expression of solidarity with coastal people.
