Fishermen from Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, Thumba, on Monday staged a road blockade near Thumba in protest against the alleged delay on part of the authorities in launching a search operation to locate three fishermen who went missing after they ventured into the sea off the Kazhakuttom coast on Sunday.
The fishermen, Yohannan, 68; Michael, 54; and Antony, 54; were residents of Rajiv Gandhi Nagar.
The fishermen were using their mechanised fibre boats and relatives lost telephone contact on Sunday night, the police said.
The fishermen withdrew their protest after the Deputy Collector assured them of all possible help, sub-inspector, Kazhakuttom, J. Chandrakumar told The Hindu over phone.
Personnel from the Indian Coast Guard, the Navy, and the coastal police were engaged in search operations, he said.
A Navy helicopter and fishermen in five boats would join the search on Tuesday.
Four rescued
The coastal police on Monday rescued four fishermen, all residents of Puthiyathura, who were adrift on the sea in their boat since Sunday after an engine failure.
They were identified as Albert, Francis, Arogyadas, and Devadasan.
