Cyclone Ockhi: Kerala govt intensifies search to find 92 missing fishermen

The Kerala government said intensified search and rescue operations are on to trace 92 fishermen, still missing in high seas after cyclone Ockhi hit the state coast on November 29 and 30.

The state control room, that monitors rescue operations, has put the death toll in the cyclone related incidents at 29.

The Government Medical College authorities here said as many as 10 dead bodies are yet to be identified.

Since the bodies are beyond recognition, DNA samples have been collected to identify them, authorities added.

So far, 2,664 people, including fishermen, have been rescued off the sea from various parts of the state, the state control room said.

A total of 292 fishermen had gone fishing on November 29 from Thiruvananthapuram coastal region,of whom 200 had already been rescued, Fisheries minister J Mercykutty, told PTI.

The 200 fishermen were part of the 2,664 people rescued.

"Officially 92 fishermen are still missing...Rescue work is going with more intensity and by widening the area for search," she said adding, that local people have however put the number of missing persons at more than 100.

According to Government Medical College sources here, as many as 34 fishermen, who were rescued, are now undergoing treatment.

Yesterday Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had visited cyclone-hit areas here and assured the state all help.

She had also asserted that rescue operations would continue till every missing fishermen was brought back safely.

With no news of their dear ones, families of the missing fishermen are waiting with prayers and not giving up hope.

Meanwhile a defence press release in Kochi said that local fishermen will join naval teams to carry out search and rescue operations of fishermen trapped in high seas.