RAMANATHAPURAM
At least 10 fishing boats, including four mechanised boats, suffered damage and two trains proceeding to Rameswaram island were delayed following high tidal waves and gusty wind in the island on Wednesday.
As the sea became rough and the wind blew at a high velocity, fishermen abstained from venturing into the sea. Five mechanised boats anchored at Rameswaram fishing jetty suffered damage after they hit one another following high tidal waves, fishermen said.
Five country boats anchored at Serankottai seashore in the island also suffered damage as they ran aground after the anchor ropes got snapped, they said.
Wind had been blowing at a high velocity since Tuesday night. The owners of the boats might have to spend ₹ 30,000 to ₹40,000 each to repair them, fishermen leader P. Sesu Raja said.
Boats suffered damage whenever gusty winds and high tidal waves hit the jetty, he said, and urged Fisheries Department to help the fishermen safeguard the trawlers during harsh weather conditions and natural calamities. As the sea would be rough, the fishermen had been asked not to venture into the sea for the next two days, he said.
As the wind velocity was high on Wednesday morning, Chennai– Rameswaram Express and Madurai– Rameswaram passenger trains proceeding to the island were detained at Mandapam station for about 30 minutes before they were allowed to pass through Pamban Rail Bridge, railway officials said.
Meanwhile, Pamban port authorities have raised cyclone warning signal (stage 3) at Pamban following the depression that formed about 80 km east and south-east of Hambantota in Sri Lanka and 500 km east and south-east of Kanniyakumari, an official said.
