The Latin Catholic Church has decided to intensify its agitation until all fishermen left stranded in the outer sea by cyclone Ockhi are rescued.

A meeting of the pastoral council under the Thiruvananthapuram archdiocese of the Church, convened by Archbishop Soosa Pakiam M., decided to launch day-and-night agitations at various places including Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Tuticorin on December 11.

A demonstration will also be taken out to the Raj Bhavan in protest against the the delay in rescuing those missing.

Secretariat siege

Vicar-General Eugene H. Pereira told mediapersons that the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard were hesitant about expanding their search in the outer sea. The Church demanded that the Centre deploy defence aircraft in the rescue effort. The agitation will continue until the last person is rescued. “We will lay siege to the Secretariat from December 13 with the bodies of victims, if our demands are not met,” he said.

He added that 285 fishermen from the district alone were yet to be rescued. The Church also reiterated its demand to declare the incident as a national disaster, reported The Hindu.

Ministers’ visit

Earlier, Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan and Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran visited the Archbishop in a bid to assuage the concerns of the Church. Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac visited various coastal areas including Adimalathura and Pozhiyoor.

During the visit, protests were raised by women against the alleged inadequacies in the package announced by the State government.

Bodies identified

The identities of two deceased fishermen were established at Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, through DNA test. They are Jude, 42, of Tuticorin, and Antony, 41, of Adimalathura.

The bodies of two more fishermen were brought to the hospital from Vizhinjam on Friday. Eighteen bodies have been brought to the hospital till date. Among the deceased, nine are yet to be identified.

Meanwhile, distribution of free ration of 15 kg of rice to those affected by the cyclone has commenced in the district. According to the District Supply Officer, the supply is in addition to the existing monthly quota being provided through ration outlets.

Counselling

The affected families of Vizhinjam, Poovar, Beemapally, Konchiravila and Valiyathura were given counselling under the aegis of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and the State Mental Health Authority. Disha counsellors visited the areas and interacted with the families of those killed or injured in the disaster.

Those who lost their property were also found to be under immense mental distress.

Of the 70 people counselled, 17 have been recommended for further treatment.