THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even after nine days have passed, the search for the two fishermen who went missing on the shores of the capital city continues. The operations to trace Shijin, 32, from Muthalapozhi, and John Mathias from Vizhinjam, 54, are continuing amid families raising concerns that the search is inept to identify them.
While Shijin’s family members alleged that the Scuba diving team that was supposed to reach the site on Saturday early morning didn’t reach Muthalapozhi on time. Meanwhile, the Fisheries Department is planning to expand the area of search to Ramanathapuram according to the demands of the family members of the missing fishermen.
Calling harsh weather the main challenge for the search operations, Chirayinkeezhu MLA Ramya Haridas said that the Scuba teams have also conducted searches, as demanded by the people.
“A team of four Scuba divers and a set of four local fishermen, as promised by the Church priest to Minister C P John, did all possible searches. The waves at the estuary opening turn ferocious very often, and even our Scuba teams express concerns. Forecasts expect that the harsh climate will continue even on Sunday, but our Scuba team will reach here by 6.30 am itself, and we will continue the search,” Ramya told TNIE.
Top officials from the Fisheries Department said that the state has initiated steps to increase the search area up to Ramanathapuram through the Chennai Coast Guard, as demanded by the natives. “The search at Vizhinjam will also go to the Thengapattanam route, and will continue with a marine ambulance on Sunday too. All our patrol boats are on the waters to trace the two missing fishermen,” she said.
Upon being asked about the family’s complaint of delayed arrival of Scuba team at Muthalapozhi, the official responded that the department tried to contact many Scuba teams, but many of them expressed concerns, and still a four-member team managed to reach the site before noon.
“Even though our Scuba divers attempted their best, unclear water and poor light underneath limited their search for merely two hours,” she added.
Fisheries officials informed that the coastal police and guards had begun their search in the marine ambulance from Vizhinjam early on Saturday morning, and continued their search along the Vizhinjam-Kanyakumari route.
“We have deployed the Coast Guard’s Anagh Ship, and even their Dornier Aircraft for aerial search in the area. The failure to trace the two missing fishermen even after a week has triggered widespread protests across the coast. Following protests, ministers C P John and Shibu Baby John had visited the families on Friday. On Saturday political leaders including CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam visited their families.
