Hope and despair for families amid wait for missing fishermen
Families of missing fishermen in Kerala are protesting the slow pace of rescue operations following a boat capsize at the Muthalapozhi estuary. Despite the incident occurring on July 31, search efforts have been hampered by poor weather and alleged government apathy.
Why it matters
It highlights the recurring safety risks faced by coastal fishing communities and the ongoing debate regarding government accountability in disaster response.
The Muthalapozhi coastal estuary and fishing harbour at Perumathura were eerily silent on Saturday as strong winds accompanied by brief spells of intermittent rains lashed the region. The area, usually bustling with fishermen’s activities, has been witnessing a multi-agency rescue operation to locate Shijin, 32, a fisherman missing at sea since July 31.
Sitting on the rocks along the bank of the estuary, Shefi Raju, Shijin’s sister, said the family had been waiting since early morning for a scuba team as the search entered its ninth day. However, the team arrived after 11.30 a.m. and entered the waters, but soon returned to their vessel after strong winds and rain made diving difficult.
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