Photo courtesy: TwitterKuzhithurai (TN): Thousands of fishermen in Tamil Nadu took to the streets here on Thursday demanding that their relatives and fellow workers who have gone missing in the sea in the aftermath of cyclone Ockhi be traced immediately.
Over 5,000 people, including women and children, blocked national highway here disrupting traffic. The protesters said they would call off the strike only after the chief minister meets them in person.
The protesters, belonging to nine coastal villages in Kanyakumari district, said 1,519 fishermen are yet to be traced. They said the rescue operation was not effective.
The protesters also blocked trains at Kuzhithurai railway station. Railway authorirties said that all trains towards Nagercoil will be delayed due to this.
The following train services have been regulated due to the ‘law and order’ situation prevailing at the station.
Trains canceled
1. Train No 66305 Kanniyakumari-Kollam MEMU
2. Train No 56317 Kochuveli-Nagercoil Passenger
Partially canceled
1. Train No 22627 Tiruchchirapalli-Trivandrum Intercity, short terminated at Nagercoil Jn.
2. Train No 22628 Trivandrum-Tiruchchirappali Intercity Express, started from Nagercoil Jn.
3. Train No 66304 Kollam-Kanniyakumari MEMU, hort terminated at Neyyatinkara.
4. Train No 56304 Nagercoil-Kottayam passenger, partially canceled between Nagercoil Jn-Thiruvananthapuram central.
5. Train No 16526 KSR Bangaluru-Kanniyakumari express, has been short terminated at Thiruvananthapuram central today.
Church warns of protest
Meanwhile, the Latin Catholic church on Thursday alleged that the Kerala government could not comprehend the feelings of the fishermen affected by the cyclone.
Vicar-general of Thiruvananthapuram Archdiocese (Latin rite) Eugene H Pereira said the church would ask the fishermen to launch a massive strike if the government continues its apathy. He also said the fishermen were not satisfied with the relief package announced by the government.
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