Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia to family of fisherman killed in Kochi

Chief Minister K Palaniswami said the victim J Antony John hailed from Colachel in Kanniyakumari in the state and expressed grief over his death.

A boat arrives at Fort Kochi with the body of a fisherman who died when Amber L, a Panama-based cargo ship, collided with a fishing boat on Sunday | Melton Antony 

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government today announced an ex-gratia of Rs two lakh to the family of a fisherman who was killed in Kochi yesterday after a cargo ship hit the boat he was travelling in with some others.      

Chief Minister K Palaniswami said the victim J Antony John hailed from Colachel in Kanyakumari in the state and expressed grief over his death.      

"I express my deepest condolences and sympathies to the family of John, who hails from Tamil Nadu. I have directed that a sum of Rs two lakh be paid to his family from the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund," he said in a statement.      

IN PICTURES: The Panama cargo vessel Amber L involved in Kochi shipping collision

Two Indian fishermen were killed and 11 others injured when the Panama-registered cargo ship, "Amber L", allegedly hit their fishing boat early yesterday off the Kochi coast.      

Of the 14 crew members on-board, 11 were rescued by fishing boats operating in the vicinity and two bodies were recovered. One fisherman is missing after the collision.      

The merchant ship has been directed not to leave Kochi till the investigation process is complete.