Fishermen keep away from work

More than 700 boats in Rameswarm, 570 boats in Mandapam and 120 boats in Pamban remained anchored

Fishermen in Rameswaram, Mandapam and Pamban have abstained from fishing on Wednesday due to rough weather.

As the weather forecast suggested that the wind speed would be 45 to 55 km per hour and it would rain, Fisheries Department officials advised the fishermen not to venture into the sea.

In Rameswaram fishing jetty, the officials offered to issue fishing permits on the condition that the fishermen should be very cautious, but the fishermen said they would not like to take the risk and stayed back, sources also said.

More than 700 boats in Rameswarm, 570 boats in Mandapam and 120 boats in Pamban remained anchored.

After weather improved

Sources in the Fisheries Department said the fishermen would be issued fishing permits only when the weather improved.

Missing

Meanwhile, Jahir Hussain, secretary of the Traditional Fishermen Association, said Mandapam fisherman P. Shanmugasundaram (30) who went missing on Monday night after a fishing boat capsized could not be traced till Wednesday evening.