The government has intensified the search for five fishermen who had gone missing at sea from Alappuzha.
District Collector T.V. Anupama said sea and air assets of the Coast Guard and Indian Navy were conducting the search operations. Marine enforcement has also joined the mission.
The missing fishermen are Sibichan, a native of Chennamveli, Joy hailing from Kattoor, Yesudas and Joseph of Chettikkad and Shaji, a native of Thumpoly.
According to the relatives, the fishermen went out to sea in a boat, Joyal, on November 29. There has been no contact with them since Friday morning. The angry relatives staged protests and blocked National Highway 66, disrupting traffic for more than 15 minutes. Fishermen organisations have alleged apathy on the part of government in alerting the fishermen community on the cyclone Ockhi and its subsequent response in handling the situation.
Officials said more than 200 people are still in relief camps at Purakkad, Ambalappuzha South and Arattupuzha panchayats.
Meanwhile, the district administration has issued a fresh rain-and-wind alert for the next 24 hours in the district. The authorities advised fishermen not to venture into sea and urged tourists and people living along coastal areas to remain vigilant.
