By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the government says there is no confusion over the number of fishermen missing post-cyclone Ockhi, the Latin Church is all set to approach the High Court seeking urgent directives to trace the missing fishermen. The Church is likely to move a habeas corpus petition by next week if the state government fails to take urgent measures. The Church feels there has been a lackadaisical approach by the government in tracing the missing fishermen. While the government says 105 fishermen are missing, the Church puts the number at 242.

Representatives of the Latin Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram, led by Archbishop M Soosa Pakiam, had met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan two days ago and raised their concerns regarding the missing fishermen. They had submitted data on missing fishermen and their suggestions.

“There is still no clarity from the government regarding the number of people missing. As per an FIR filed by the Disaster Management office, as many as 139 are missing. There is also no clarity on the bodies to be identified. It seems there is a lackadaisical attitude on part of the government. If it continues, the Church will file a habeas corpus petition before the High Court very soon,” said the Thiruvananthapuram Latin Archdiocese.

Migrant Labourers could be missing

The Latin Church authorities also suspect there could be some migrant labourers among the missing fishermen. “Migrant labourers from West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh were working in fishing boats going to the sea from Ernakulam, Kollam and Kozhikode. Since we don’t have any specific data on these labourers, it should be suspected whether they are also missing,” a source said.

200 fishermen return safely to their families

Kochi: While the families of missing fishermen continued their wait with prayers, as many as 20 boats carrying 200 fishermen returned to the shore safely in Ernakulam district on Friday. Meanwhile, efforts to locate the 14 missing boats failed to yield result. A review meeting of the disaster relief operations was held in the chamber of District Collector Mohammed Y Safirulla on Friday. Disaster Management Authority Deputy Collector Sheela Devi, Sub-Collector Inbasekhar and officers from the Revenue and Fisheries Departments participated.

Govt contacts authorities in Oman

T’Puram: The state government contacted authorities in Oman via the Ministry of External Affairs following reports bodies were found in the sea near the Oman coast. The government’s intervention came as many fishermen were still missing in the Arabian Sea following Ockhi. “Besides writing to the External Affairs Ministry, we have contacted the Indian ambassador in Oman twice this afternoon regarding the matter,” Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue and Disaster Management) P H Kurian said. The authorities in Oman have alerted their Coast Guard and a search is on to locate the bodies, Kurian said.

One more body identified

T’Puram:The identity of one more victim of Cyclone Ockhi has been established. The remains of Alexander,35, son of Vincent, Fishermen Colony, Pozhiyoor kept at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital(MCH) has been identified through DNA Test. Alexander’s relatives collected the body from the hospital. His body was barely identifiable when it had been brought to the MCH and it has since been kept in the hospital’s morgue. The MCH had received 19 bodies of cyclone victims so far. Of these, seven bodies are yet to be identified. The bodies have been kept in mortuaries of MCH, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology and General Hospital. Five fishermen are undergoing treatment in hospital.