Even as officials are working round-the-clock to bring back normalcy, fisherfolk in the cyclone-hit Kanniyakumari district continued their protest for the third day on Saturday.
Despite assurances from officials that the missing fishermen would be traced, the protesters refused to give up their agitation in many coastal towns.
“We have not eaten properly for the last 10 days. We are depressed. We are practically on the streets and hoping that our dear ones would return. We would like to know their fate...”, a woman told reporters at Kuzhithurai, a feeling echoed by others.
Many youngsters were in no mood to listen to what officials told them at the Collectorate. They blamed both the Central and State governments for their woes. The fishermen were particularly critical of the government’s failure to alert fishermen during times of cyclones well in advance. They demanded compensation on a par with what the Kerala government gave their fishermen. In many villages, the public have put up shamianas and plan to continue their stir.
While the agitators put the missing fishermen number at 1,300, the government announced that 12 fishermen were found dead so far.
Fishermen traced
A total of 3,117 fishermen from Kanniyakumari and neighbouring towns, who were reportedly missing since Ockhi cyclone, have been identified and are safe on various shores. They would be back home soon, said Principal Secretary T.K. Ramachandran here on Saturday.
At a press conference, senior officials from different departments, who are camping here supervising the rescue operations for the last one week, said that most fishermen had safely reached various places, including Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala.
The Chief Secretary, in an order, deputed Chandrakant B. Kamble to go to Gujarat and coordinate in bringing back some of the fishermen. Shambu Kallolikar has been deputed to Maharashtra, Santosh Babu to Karnataka and Arun Roy to Kerala, Lakshadweep.
The officers in coordination with the Fisheries Department would take steps to identify the fishermen, arrange for their medical check-up and transport them back home, said Mr. Ramachandran, adding that 45 fishermen who were traced to Lakshadweep were sent to the Kochi port, from where they being brought by private buses. The ICG, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force have intensified search operations by deploying 23 ships, five fixed wing aircraft and five helicopters. According to an ICG officer, 672 lives were saved since November 30 from T.N., Kerala and Lakshadweep.
