TN urges Centre to launch aerial search for missing fishermen

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Saturday requested Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to involve the Indian Navy and Coast Guard helicopters for search and rescue of fishermen caught in mid sea in the wake of cyclone Ockhi.

According to a statement issued by the state government, Singh had called Palaniswami and enquired about the damages suffered due to the Ockhi cyclone.

Palaniswami had requested deployment of helicopters in the search and rescue operations of fishermen who have not returned after they ventured into the sea a couple of days back.

Family members of fishermen in Kanyakumari said around 100 boats with several fishers had ventured into sea three days back and have not returned and several boats seem to have capsized due to heavy winds and rains.

Meanwhile, DMK Working President M.K. Stalin in a letter to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, said the families of fishermen in Kanyakumari apprehend that about 1,000 fishermen who went for fishing in 100 boats are yet to be located and are stranded in mid-sea.

--IANS

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