Thiruvananthapuram: The death toll due to Cyclone Ockhi, which hit the Kerala coast on November 29 and 30, rose to 66 on Wednesday as more bodies continued to be discovered off the Kerala coast by different rescue agencies.
Twelve bodies were brought to the shore Wednesday, mostly from the northern parts of the state's coastline.
Two bodies, one each from Ponnani and Malappuram, were brought ashore. In Malappuram, the coastal police acted on a spotting reported by fishermen.
Officials at the state control room monitoring the search operations said six bodies were found off Kozhikode on Tuesday and two off Kochi late Monday.
Of the total bodies recovered, 24 were found off the coast of Thiruvananthapuram and 11 off Kochi. Seven bodies were found off Kollam; nine, Kozhikode; two, Malappuram; and one each off Thrissur, Kannur and Kasaragod, they said.
Search operations would continue as 95 fishermen were still missing, official sources said.
CM seeks donation
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday urged people to donate towards the Ockhi Cyclone Relief Fund set up by the state government for rehabilitation of the affected families.
Pinarayi said employees of the state and central governments, private institutions and people in social and cultural fields should contribute generously to the fund.
He also said the help of individuals, institutions and organizations was necessary as a huge amount was needed for taking up rehabilitation projects.
State fisheries minister J Mercykutty visited the Pozhiyur coastal area of the district to take stock of the situation.
Church leaders meet governor
Meanwhile, the archbishop of the Latin Catholic church Soosa Pakiam met governor P Sathasivam and raised various demands, including an intensive search for missing fishermen.
On Monday, hundreds of fishermen under the aegis of the diocese had taken out a march to the Raj Bhavan seeking a hike in the compensation amount.
The state government has announced a relief package for the affected victims, which, among other things, included Rs 20 lakh each to the families of those who died in the cyclone that ravaged the coast on .
The state government has also demanded a financial assistance of Rs 1,834 crore from the Center in view of the loss suffered due to the cyclone.
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