Kochi: Four ships MV Kavaratti, MV Lagoon, MV Coral and MV Lakshadweep Sea set sail from Cochin Port carrying a combined passenger load of around 1600 on Tuesday to Kavaratti, Kalpeni, Minicoy and one other island in Lakshadweep taking the stranded island people and other passengers. The islanders were stranded here for the past four days in the aftermath of cyclone Ockhi. The Lakshadweep administration on Tuesday restored the normal schedule of ship services after suspending services five days back.
Two ships left at 2.30 p.m. followed by another ship at 3.15 p.m. and the last one left the port at 5.30 p.m. The services will be operated as per schedule in the coming days. Lakshadweep administrator Farooq Khan said the stranded islanders were paid Rs 150 per head per day for the four days, on Monday and Tuesday.
Farooq Khan rejected allegations that the administration failed to evacuate and bring relief to islanders, especially in Minicoy. “If the administration had not stepped into action, there would have been casualties. The '10,000 given to fully damaged houses is on the spot relief and all of them have received cheques by now. A sum of Rs 5000 is given for fully damaged boats. I have given instruction to my officials to assess damage including to crop and distribute final relief in 15 days. What has now been distributed is from the State Disaster Relief Fund,” he said. The administrator also said that the allegations raised against Navy and Coast Guard of inaction also were not true. “They all put in their best effort,” he said.
