The Hindu : Kerala News : Coastal hartal observed in Kasaragod

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Coastal hartal observed in Kasaragod

Staff Reporter

Hartal in protest against lack of rescue facilities for fishermen in the district
Fisherman who was reported missing on Wednesday yet to be traced

KASARAGOD: A coastal hartal was observed in Kasaragod district on Thursday following a call by the Fishermen Protection Council in protest against the absence of facilities here to rescue fishermen who meet with accidents at sea.

The hartal affected fishing activities in the district. Shops also remained closed in some areas.

‘No boats’

Chairman of the council U.S. Balan said the district did not have rescue boats to search for missing fishermen.

Rescue boats had to arrive from Kannur or Mangalapuram whenever a mishap was reported off the Kasaragod coast.

He alleged that the delay in starting rescue operations was costing fishermen dear.

‘Avoidable deaths’

Several fishermen had been killed in rough seas in the district during the previous years and many of those death could have been avoided had rescue boats been stationed here.

Meanwhile, Maneesh, a fisherman from Kumbla in the district who had been reported missing after a boat capsized at sea on Wednesday had not been traced till evening on Thursday.

The boat ‘EMS’ in which Mr. Maneesh and seven others went to sea capsized in shallow waters on Wednesday morning.

While others swam to safety, Mr. Maneesh was reported missing. Mr. Balan said though the accident occurred in the morning, search boats arrived by evening only.

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