3 weeks ago
Kerala opposition slams UDF government over delay tracing missing fishermen
Three fishermen in Kerala went out to sea and their boats had accidents.
Their names are Gautam Krishna, John and Shijin.
Nobody has found them yet, even after eight days of searching.
Their families are very sad and are asking the government for help.
Some leaders in Kerala are angry with the government for being slow.
They say the rescue boats, called marine ambulances, are not working properly.
These boats were built to save fishermen when accidents happen.
The leaders want better rescue boats and faster action.
Everyone is hoping the missing fishermen will be found safe.
Three fishermen — Gautam Krishna, John and Shijin — went missing in separate boat mishaps at Neendakara, Vizhinjam and Muthalappozhi on July 31.
Opposition parties including the LDF, BJP and CPI criticized the UDF government for failing to trace the fishermen even after eight days of search operations.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan alleged the government has a 'negative approach' towards fishermen and questioned where the Fisheries Minister was.
BJP's Kummanam Rajasekharan alleged the Rs 18.24 crore marine ambulance project failed due to administrative and technical lapses, citing engine problems on the Beypore vessel.
Rajasekharan, citing government figures, claimed 225 fishermen died and 75 went missing along the Kerala coast in the last five years.
- Who
- Three fishermen — Gautam Krishna, John and Shijin — missing from separate boat mishaps; opposition leaders T P Ramakrishnan (LDF), Kummanam Rajasekharan (BJP) and Binoy Vishwam (CPI) criticizing the UDF government.
- What
- Search operations have failed to trace the missing fishermen eight days after their boat mishaps, with opposition parties alleging lapses in rescue operations, the marine ambulance system and disaster preparedness.
- Where
- Off the Kerala coast, at Neendakara, Vizhinjam and Muthalappozhi.
- When
- The boat mishaps occurred on July 31; the criticism and search operations continued as of August 8.
- Why
- Opposition leaders allege the government's delayed response, dysfunctional marine ambulances and inadequate preparedness are putting fishermen's lives at risk.
Key facts
- Missing fishermen
- Gautam Krishna, John, Shijin
- Incident date
- July 31
- Incident locations
- Neendakara, Vizhinjam, Muthalappozhi
- Search status
- Unsuccessful after eight days, as of August 8
- Marine ambulance project cost
- Rs 18.24 crore
- Ambulance funding
- Rs 7.5 crore (CM's Distress Relief Fund), Rs 2 crore (state Plan Fund), Rs 8.75 crore (Bharat Petroleum CSR)
- Ambulance vessels
- 'Pratheeksha', 'Prathyasha', 'Karunya' — built by Cochin Shipyard, deployed at Vizhinjam, Vypeen and Beypore
- Kerala coastal casualties (5 years)
- 225 fishermen died, 75 missing
Quotes
Kummanam Rajasekharan
BJP national executive member and Kerala opposition voice
“Fishermen go to sea for their livelihood. It is the government’s responsibility to ensure that they return safely. If even the rescue system is not functional when an accident occurs, what is the purpose of the government’s coastal safety policy?”
theprint.in
“The government is not seeing the grief of the families and the anger among the people caused by the delay in finding the fishermen missing from Muthalappozhi, Vizhinjam and Neendakara.”
theprint.in
Sources
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