Chennai: Family members of around 1,000 fishermen and residents of some Cyclone Ockhi-hit localities in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari hit the streets in protest on Saturday to draw the attention of the authorities to their plight and seek intensified search for the kin out on the high seas.
Family members of around 1,000 fishermen who ventured into the deep seas when Cyclone Ockhi struck the southern Tamil Nadu coast have demanded that aerial searches and rescue operations be launched to trace the missing men.
On the other hand people living in a locality in Nagercoil protested against the official apathy to their basic needs like drinking water, milk for children and power supply.
Protesting on the roads, the fishermen families on Saturday said the fisherfolk had ventured into the sea in around 100 boats three days back and have not returned.
Several boats appear to have capsized due to heavy winds and rains after the cyclone made landfall in the state and neighbouring Kerala on Thursday and the stormy conditions continue in the area.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami also 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 the cyclone.
According to a statement issued by the state government, Rajnath Singh had called Palaniswami and enquired about the damages suffered due to the Ockhi.
Palaniswami had requested deployment of helicopters in the search and rescue operations of fishermen who have not returned.
DMK Working President M.K.Stalin also wrote to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on behalf on the fishermen families, saying: "Their families are very much afraid that the lives of the stranded fishermen are in great danger."
He told Sitharaman "immediate rescue measures must be undertaken by the Indian Coast Guard".
Kanyakumari is one of the districts heavily battered by the cyclone since Thursday.
According to the protesters, no one from the authorities has come and met them yet.
Meanwhile, officials of Coast Guard here were not available for comment on the rescue operations when contacted by IANS.
On Friday, Chief Minister Palaniswami had instructed officials to take steps to locate 30 fishermen on 11 boats who went missing at sea.
The state government in a statement said the Fisheries Department and coastal security agencies had so far rescued 76 fishermen in 18 boats.
The Coast Guard on Friday said two of its ships from Tuticorin had sailed out on Thursday for the search and rescue of the stranded fishing boats at sea.
It also said its Dornier aircraft was launched for the coordinated sea air search for the missing boats.
Late on Friday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Palaniswami over phone and assured the central government's assistance for relief work.
Palaniswami told Modi that the state government would make detailed study on the damages and send a report to the Centre.
The Chief Minister also told Modi that seven districts, mainly Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli, were affected by Cyclone Ockhi.
Meanwhile Palaniswami on Saturday ordered release of Rs 25 crore towards relief, rescue and rehabilitation works in Kanyakumari district.