The bodies of two Indian fishermen, who drowned in the sea off the Saudi Arabian coast on March 18, have been retrieved, while search is on for the third victim. The trio hailed from Kanniyakumari district in Tamil Nadu.
According to Fr. Churchil of South Asian Fishermen Fraternity (SAFF), the bodies of S. Joseph Sugandan (53) of Kovalam and D. George Antony (40) of Kesavaputhenthurai were fished out on Tuesday and Wednesday by Saudi authorities. The Saudi government had launched an aerial search to find the body of the third fisherman P. Arul Nevil (28) of Rajakkamangalamthurai.
He said the mechanised boat in which the three men set out for fishing on March 17 for their Saudi-based sponsor was toppled due to gales that struck that night. CSG officials, however, said the boat could have toppled after being hit by a merchant vessel.
According to another version, the three fishermen, along with an African national, slipped into the sea. While the African national was rescued by another boat, the Indian fishermen drowned, Fr. Churchil said.
The SAFF had sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister to take quick action to bring back the fishermen’s bodies from Saudi Arabia and also extend compensation to their families, he added.
Assistant Director of Fisheries Department Rupert Jothi said the district administration had informed the Central and State governments for necessary action to bring back the bodies.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to direct the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia to take urgent steps to arrange for necessary search and rescue operations of the fisherman, Nevil, missing, in the fishing accident.
“I also request you to direct the Indian embassy to take up this matter with the employer concerned and ensure that the monetary benefits due to all three fishermen are released to their families without any delay”.
In another letter, Mr. Palaniswami sought the personal intervention of Mr. Modi requesting him to instruct the Embassies of India in Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in Iran to take effective legal steps to secure the immediate release of 35 Indian fishermen, detained by the Iranian Coast Guard.
