Kin of deceased to get Rs 10 lakh: CM

The announcement follows a review meeting on Cyclone Ockhi’s by the CM with the State Disaster Management Authority officials, Chief Secretary and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar on Thursday evening. The announcement is also expected to appease the Kanniyakumari fishermen.

Enumeration of missing and deceased fishermen at village level would be carried out by a team led by Commissioner of Revenue Administration K Satyagopal.

Satyagopal will also lead another team of inter-department officials in order to relax the laid down norms to ensure that the relief measures cover reaches every affected person and for continuous updation of beneficiary list.

The CM also announced a rehabilitation relief of Rs 5 lakhs for the permanently disabled fishermen and Rs 50,000 for the injured. He also reeled out several other welfare measures including livelihood assistance for the kin of deceased fishermen, one-time relief for all fisher families in Kanniyakumari, enhancement of fuel allowance and out of pocket allowance for the stranded fishermen in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Lakshadweep, Karnataka and Kerala.

Meanwhile, CM Palaniswami also shot off a letter to PM Modi to declare the Cyclone Ockhi effect in the state as national disaster, besides insisting the Centre to expand and intensify the search and rescue operations of Defence into the deep sea up to Gujarat and Maldives and along the Coast of Arabian sea from Kanniyakumari.

Stating that the magnitude of the damages to power infrastructure, agriculture including horticulture and plantation crops, road networks, fisheries infrastructure, drinking water supply etc. in Kanniyakumari district as humongous, the CM sought the Centre’s intervention.

“As an immediate measure, the Ockhi cyclone that severely affected Kanniyakumari may be declared as a ‘National Disaster’ and necessary financial assistance may be provided for restoration of the infrastructure that was left in tatters by the gusting winds and torrential rains,” the CM said, and added that a detailed memorandum will be submitted.