Thiruvananthapuram: Search and rescue efforts are underway in Vizhinjam off the Kerala coast where nearly 40 people were stranded at the sea due to cyclone 'Ockhi'. In a massive operation, the Indian Navy rescued two fishing boats - Arokia Mary and Hermen Mary - with 8 crew members on board which had gone missing off Vizhinjam coast.
Meanwhile, Indian Navy ships Sharda and Shardul sailed out to augment search effort are in the final stages of embarking humanitarian assistance and disaster relief items for assistance at Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the government has initiated all possible steps to rescue the stranded fishermen. He said that though the exact number of stranded fishermen was yet to be known, the government is trying to bring them to shore without any delay.
Vijayan said 70 fishermen in sea had already got in touch with rescue teams. But, the teams could not reach them due to inclement weather.
Official sources said around 50 fishermen had already been rescued by the joint team of the Navy, the Air Force and the Coast Guard.
According to a rough estimate, nearly 200 fishermen here had gone out for fishing last day and yet to return.
Vijayan said the state has requested the Defence Ministry to deploy more aircraft for rescue operations in view of the cyclone moving towards Lakshadweep.
The existing aircraft were not enough to tackle the problems in coastal Kerala and the archipelago.
The state has also sought the help of Merchant Navy and two of their ships also rescued 10 fishermen from the sea.
He said rescue operations were also getting delayed as some of the fishermen in sea were not ready to return to shore by leaving their boats there.
"It is causing some problem. But, it shows that they are safe and efforts to supply food and water to them were on", he said.
Quoting weather forecast, he said the present situation was likely to continue till Saturday.