Relatives of missing fishermen protest delay in rescue operations

Thiruvananthapuram: While several fishermen, who put out to sea from various southern districts batted by heavy rains and winds under the influence of Cyclone Ockhi, were rescued, anxious relatives of the missing fishermen, including women, Friday blocked traffic and raised slogans in Kollam and Thiruvanathapuram, protesting the delay in their rescue.

In Thiruvananthapuram, fishermen and women blocked the national highway braving heavy rains.

Former chief minister Oommen Chandy, BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan visited a fishing hamlet in Poonthura near here, from where a large number of fishermen, who put out to sea, were yet to return.

As per the latest MeT bulletin, the system is very likely to intensify further during the next 24 hours.

"It is very likely to continue to move west- northwestwards across Lakshadweep islands during the next 24 hours and then move north-northeastwards during the subsequent 48 hours," it added.