Team Herald
VASCO: With no relief forthcoming from the state government, the Mormugao Port Trust as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) provided emergency succour to the fishermen who took refuge at the Vasco Bay.
The relief came two days later as some fishermen fell short of food, drinking water, fuel medical aid etc. while the others sought help for vessel repairs.
“With the onset of cruise tourism season, Mormugao Port, these days remains all decked up to host large groups of high end tourists from all over world who visit Goa on large luxury cruise ships. However, the winds of change, literally speaking, brought about a large contingent of guests of different kind to the port. Over 300 fishing boats and trawlers carrying nearly three thousand fishermen from Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Gujarat are currently taking shelter at Mormugao Port,” a MPT spokesperson said.
He said, “Not to be found wanting in this hour of crisis, Mormugao Port has risen to the occasion voluntarily and provided refuge to the fishing vessels inside the Vasco Bay. Currently, an Emergency Task Force of senior port executives are camping at the site and rendering all possible help to the fishermen. Arrangements have been made to provide clean drinking water, food, refreshments, medicines, all other essential commodities that may be required to overcome the hardship caused to the fishermen.”
“Besides the Port Emergency Task Force, a para-medical team headed by two Medical Officers of the MPT Hospital is present at the site rendering all medical assistance and medicines to the affected fishermen. A port ambulance is on standby to render help in any medical emergency. So far 40 fishermen have been given treatment for minor ailments. The Harbour Master of the Port is providing regular weather updates and it is expected that some of the fishing vessels would sail out by tomorrow evening,” he informed.
“Our boat needs urgent repairs as engine has developed some problems but we are not allowed to come to the shore. Our food supply got over on Sunday and since then we have been begging for food from other fishermen who are stranded along with us here in Goa. Today, when we asked for help someone from MPT came and gave us ‘Vada Pao’ for lunch. We don’t know what to do and where to go,” said Vishal Somnath, a fisherman from Gujarat.
Like Vishal, there were few other fishermen from Tamil Nadu and Kerala who had come down to Khariwado jetty using small canoes and were seen asking for help. Some were seen complaining of loss of nets due to cyclone, while others were asking for monetary help.
“As far as state administration is concerned, instead of coming prepared to provide all sorts of help to the stranded fishermen, the officials were seen collecting all sort of data from the locals and stranded fishermen and if MPT had not come forward to offer help then the situation here would have been horrible. This shows how well the state administration is prepared in handling such emergency,” said a local fisherman from Khariwado.
The local fishermen as well as some concerned citizens from Vasco especially one P C Prasad and his colleagues from Kerala Cultural Association camped at Khariwado jetty since morning to provide assistance and help to the stranded fishermen.
Mormugao Mamlatdar Satish Prabhu along with Joint Mamlatdar also visited the site and noted down requirements needed by the crew members.
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Coast Guard saved 183 people since Ockhi onset
Indian Coast Guard has so far saved 183 people since the onset of Cyclone Ockhi.
As on December 4, operations are on and till the filing of this report, 19 additional fishermen had been rescued from remote islands of L&M.
The Indian Coast Guard in a massive search and rescue operation undertook the humanitarian task of saving precious lives at sea since the onset of cyclone ‘Ockhi’. The cyclonic system developed on November 29,20 17 as a well marked low depression in the south east of Sri Lanka and further developed as deep depression whilst moving west north-westwards towards south Tamil Nadu, Kerala coast and Lakshadweep Islands. On November 30, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) declared it as Cyclone and named it Ockhi, meaning ‘Eye’ in Bangla. The Coast Guard Region (West) at Mumbai assessing the impact of cyclone in the sea area immediately tasked ships and aircrafts for providing critical assistance to the fishermen at sea.
Coast Guard District Headquarters at Kochi and Kavaratti were directed to provide necessary assistance to stranded fishermen and shepherd them to shelter areas. The Indian Coast Guard has tasked a total of 12 ships and has also pressed in the efforts of 03 Dornier aircrafts and 02 helicopters for sea-air coordinated search and rescue assistance to the stranded fishermen at sea. Till December 3, 164 lives were saved by ships in Kerala and L&M areas.
Even as cyclone Ockhi has now moved north of L&M islands, deployment of ships and aircraft are continuing in the area to search for the persons stranded at sea. During the ongoing search operations, the Coast Guardsman are toiling extremely unfavourable sea conditions and yet maintaining momentum to sustain efforts of saving lives. In addition, Coast Guard stations along the west coast are interacting with fishermen and are assisting them with first aid and food as required. The fishermen are being counselled to remain inside harbour and not to venture out into the sea till the system dissipates. The data of fishermen in shelter areas is also being shared with concerned State Fisheries and other state authorities to convey the same to next of kin. In addition, the Coast Guard Region (West) is disseminating adequate precautionary advisories to State Authorities of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and U/T of Daman & Diu for the likelihood of re-curving of the cyclone and making landfall along south Gujarat coast near Gulf of Khambat. Further, the oil handling agencies in offshore development areas have also been advised to initiate cyclone contingency measures and initiate necessary evacuation of personnel from oil platforms well in time.
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Goencho Saib saved us, say fishermen
For the fishermen and other residents of Vasco, it was only due to the blessings of “Goencho Saib” St Francis Xavier that the people of state were saved from any major disaster due to Cyclone Ockhi.
According to the fishermen, the manner in which Cyclone Ockhi diverted towards the Arabian Sea while passing off Goa coast, and then headed towards Mumbai before making a landfall in Gujarat, such things cannot happen without any miracle.
“It is nothing but a miracle as the day when cyclone Ockhi was passing by Goa we all were celebrating feast of “Goencho Saib” St Francis Xavier. It is his power and blessings on the people of state that we all are once again saved from such a huge natural disaster or else the way cyclone Ockhi created havoc in other states, a disaster would have been worse here. But we have “Goencho Saib” to safeguard us and this has been proved on several occasions in past,” a Khariwado-based fisherman said.
