The fishing community in India was petrified as witnessing Cyclone Phyan recently. As a result most of the fishing trawlers remained out of sea. Sources revealed that none of the missing fishermen’s bodies have been recovered, and those retrieved off the Maharashtra coast are beyond recognition. Menino Afonso, chairman of Mandovi fisheries cooperative society, said that bodies recovered so far cannot be recognized.
He told that most fishing craft remained anchored as the fishermen expressed their desire to go home for some time. He also added that they have allowed them time to get over the shock. Deputy Director of fisheries Nandkishore Verlekar said that the final report indicate the number of missing fishermen is 67, while five trawlers and two canoes have either sunk or are missing. He told that there is no further information about any bodies recovered.
According to Verlekar said the process to provide the Rs one lakh compensation to the victim’s next of kin is in process. The fisheries societies have also not provided details of the damages to them in terms of equipment and fishing material lost. Meanwhile, the low pressure area over Cape Comorin at the tip of the Indian peninsular has disappeared, bringing some relief to the fishing community.
