Thiruvananthapuram: Two fishermen died after strong winds overturned their boat in Perumathura-Muthalapozhi on Monday. The deceased are Shanavas and Nizam.
As per preliminary reports, 23 people were there on the boat. Of them, three -- Musthafa, Usman and Samad -- are still missing.
Indian Coast Guard immediately activated its search and rescue operations on receipt of the information about the accident. While nine fishermen were rescued by the coastal police, the remaining swam to the shore, said police. Efforts by Coast Guard Charlie Ships and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) are on to rescue those missing, a Coast Guard official said.
They had ventured from Varkala for fishing when rough seas accompanied by strong winds capsized their boat. The injured persons were admitted to Chirayinkeezhu taluk hospital.
Meanwhile, residents protested against the police alleging delay in launching the rescue operation.
Red alert in 4 districts tomorrow
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, and Idukki districts for tomorrow and an orange alert in Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts.
The weatherman has also issued an orange alert for Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Kannur, indicating heavy rains on September 7, a day before the Onam festival in the state.
A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rains of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while an orange alert means very heavy rains from 6 cm to 20 cm. A yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 cm to 11 cm.
(With PTI inputs)
