Ministers visit John’s house on 11th day, family lists neglect faced; promises to resolve issues soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala visited the family of fisherman John, who went missing in the sea in Vizhinjam. Even after 11 days since John went missing, he has still not been found. Fisheries Minister V E Abdul Gafoor and Kovalam MLA M Vincent accompanied Ramesh Chennithala to Vizhinjam. This is the first time fisheries minister visiting the family.

The family had alleged that the government had failed to conduct an effective search despite several days having passed since John went missing. The opposition also came forward with serious allegations, including lack of coordination in the search operation and neglect of fishermen.

John’s son told Chennithala that warnings from the government had not reached them at the appropriate time. ‘We are sure that dad will return. People staying at home and waiting for their loved ones to return from the sea, should be able to live without fear. We are speaking publicly only because of the pain we are going through. We are not politicising the issue,’ he said.

It is a very painful situation. What they have lost is a precious human life. We join them in their grief. Search will continue strongly. We will do everything that the government can do, Chennithala said after visiting the family.

The fisheries minister said efforts are being made to fully digitalise the department and to make weather forecasts more accurate. He also said that guidelines for conducting search operations when fishermen go missing in the sea would be issued soon, and that the warning system would be improved.

There is some delay in initiating search operations immediately after someone goes missing at sea. The delay is mainly to get permissions from various authorities. Both the home and the fisheries ministers assured the family that they would discuss the matter with the central government and try to resolve it.