Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has informed that the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard have jointly rescued the lives of 1154 fishermen who lost their way in the mid-seas when the cyclone hit the Tamil Nadu-Kerala coast last Friday.

Recording on her official Twitter account, Nirmala Sitharaman said that as per latest information available, 1154 fishermen travelling in 89 fishing boats have been rescued by the Navy and the Coast Guard.  “Most of them are found to be hailing from Kerala dn Tamil Nadu and have been kept safely along the cast in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa and Lakshadweep,” she tweeted.

71 Tamils, 248 Keralites and 38 from Lakshadweep are among the rescued fishermen, a Defence Ministry communiqué said.  The Minister arrived at Kanniyakumari by a Defence Ministry chopper to inspect the damage caused by ‘Cyclone Okhi’ and was briefed about the rescue/relief operations put in place by deputy chief-minister O. Panneerselvam, Revenue Miniser Udhayakumar and Fisheries Minister Jayakumar.

She heard complaints from weeping women about the need to address their immediate concerns.  Later, speaking to newsmen, the Minister said that the Defence Ministry has pressed into service choppers of IAF and the Navy to look or missing fishermen.  For the first time, war-ships have also been instructed to look for survivors,” she said.