Five fishermen who were under treatment at Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, after they sustained injuries in cyclone Ockhi were discharged on Sunday.
They were identified as Ouseph Elias, 53; Anil Lewdit, 42, of Kochuveli; Lovithan, 46, of Poonthura; Antony Adima, 30, of Kanyakumari; and Francis, 31, of Pozhiyoor.
According to official sources, eight people are still undergoing treatment at the hospital, including 42-year-old Michael of Poonthura, whose condition continued to be critical. He is being treated at the Trauma Care Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The body of 58-year-old Sesil of Adimalathura, who was identified through DNA test, was handed over to his kin on Sunday. As many as 18 bodies have been brought to the hospital to date.
The Latin Catholic Church has decided to intensify its agitation against the Union and State governments in protest against the alleged apathy on their part in rescuing those who remained stranded at sea. According to Vicar-General of Thirvuvananthapuram Archdiocese Eugene H. Pereira, 50,000 people, including those from other parts of the State, are expected to take part in the march to Raj Bhavan on Monday. The future course of the agitation will be charted out within the next few days.
Even as he pointed out that the State government has now taken all possible steps to rescue those stranded in the outer sea, the sense of urgency was lacking in the initial days of the operation. “These fishermen had set sail 12 days ago, and every minute lost endangered their lives. We can only hope that no more precious time is lost,” Fr. Pereria said.
At the same time, reports that fishermen from Thiruvananthapuram who were stranded in Maharashtra and Gujarat had commenced their journey to Kerala brought some solace to the community.
Coast Guard rescues 260
The Coast Guard has managed to rescue as many as 260 people since the launch of the rescue operation. It has also administered medical aid and directed merchant vessels in the efforts. The Coast Guard also recovered four bodies of fishermen.
V.S. Sivakumar, MLA, has urged the government to adopt effective steps in alleviating the woes of the fishing community that had suffered immensely in the cyclonic Ockhi.
In a statement, Mr. Sivakumar alleged that many of the benefits that had been announced were yet to be distributed. These included financial assistance for those who have been unable to work, free ration of superior quality and adequate supply of food at relief camps. He visited the affected people in Poonthura, Cheriyathura, Valiyathura, Vettucaud and Kochuveli.