Amid cyclone Ochki fury in Kerala, the state administration, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard has chartered a plan for the rescue of hundreds of fishermen who went missing since Thursday.
The state administration has sought the help of Indian Air Force, Coast Guard and Navy men for recce and rescue.
While Air Force will engage themselves in spotting the fishermen stranded in the seas, Coast Guard and Navy men will swing into rescue action as soon as they are alerted by the Air Force.
Speaking to TNM, Dhanya Sanal, Defense PRO, said, “2 aircrafts - AN-32 Aircrafts - and 2 choppers have been deployed to spot the fishermen who have managed to float on the seas. The air force will then drop survival kit to the stranded fishermen. The next task is to inform the coast guard officials and navy regarding the location of the spotted fishermen.”
The coast guard and the navy, when alerted, put together a plan for rescue mission through their vessels.
She also added that, “Though the aircrafts are already airborne and doing reconnaissance over the Arabian Sea, we face major challenges to carry out the rescue operation smoothly, as the weather over the sea continues to be rough.”
In a press meet, CM Pinarayi Vijayan said , “According to the reports by IMD the condition is likely to continue the same till tomorrow morning and we have taken adequate measures.”
The CM also expressed concerns over the family members of the missing fishermen taking to the seas to rescue their relatives. He asked the fishermen community not to venture out to the seas on their own without protection and kindly trust the rescue mission planned out by the state.
“I request the fishermen community not to go to the seas in search of their family members. Yesterday in one such instance, we had to deploy another rescue team to handle the situation. I want the community to trust the state authorities and the rescue mission that we have plotted out”, the CM said.
A press meet will also be conducted by District Collector with Air Force authorities today at 11 a.m at Air Force Technical Area, Shangumugom about the rescue operations.
According to National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA) the system is very likely to move west-northwestwards towards Lakshadweep Islands and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours.
Photos: Recue operations underway in Lakshadweep