Government Must Act Swiftly to Address Concerns of Families of Missing Fishermen: Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: The government must take immediate steps to resolve the issues raised by the families of fishermen who went missing at sea, Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan said. Uncertainty continues to prevail, and families must not be left without support. The government should follow the precedents set in the past during such situations.

Houses should be built for those who have lost their homes, their debts should be settled and employment should be provided to one member of each affected family, Pinarayi said. He also demanded that a job be given to the wife of Rajesh, the rescue worker who died after being swept away while saving someone during flood. The government should take responsibility for the children's education, he said. Compensation should be provided at the earliest after assessing the extent of the losses, Pinarayi said at a press conference.

According to the preliminary assessment, the state has suffered agricultural losses of more than ₹127 crore due to the monsoon disaster. Crops have been destroyed across 9,332 hectares, affecting 45,904 farmers. All districts have suffered damage. Ranni and Aranmula witnessed extensive losses. Traders also suffered losses worth crores of rupees. The flood was extremely severe in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki and Alappuzha districts. Wayanad district was also pushed into a situation of isolation.

The first few hours after the accident at sea were crucial for conducting an effective rescue operation. However, there were serious lapses in this regard, Pinarayi said. Why were the departments unable to act promptly when the accident occurred? Was the government present during the disaster? Families have complained that the authorities were unwilling to use helicopters for the rescue operation.

The state government also failed to take precautionary measures in accordance with weather warnings. It is surprising that there were lapses in providing facilities at relief camps, Pinarayi said. The allegation that fishermen were not given the necessary safety warnings is also serious, he added.

Pinarayi said the Opposition would extend its full support to the relief and rehabilitation efforts.