Kerala Fisherman Missing for 11 Days: Family Urges Overhaul of Rescue and Weather Systems
The family of John Mathias, a fisherman from Pulluvila in Thiruvananthapuram who has been missing for 11 days, on Monday expressed distress over reported remarks by Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and other ministers concerning fishermen who venture into the sea.
Speaking to Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Fisheries Minister V.E. Abdul Gafoor during their visit to the family, Mr. Mathias's children said such comments were deeply hurtful to a community that depends on the sea for its livelihood. They clarified that their demands for better safety arrangements, faster rescue operations and improved weather warnings were not politically motivated but arose from the anguish and uncertainty they have endured since Mr. Mathias went missing.
Mr. Mathias's daughter Jiji John said the fishing community had every right to approach the government with its concerns. Raising demands for better safety arrangements should not be interpreted as political opposition or as an attempt to blame the government, she added.
A key demand from the family was for a localised weather forecasting system that could provide fishermen with accurate information about conditions in the specific areas where they operate. Mr. Mathias's son Nebin Nelson expressed optimism that his father would return, but pointed out that fishermen often receive general weather warnings that do not accurately correspond to conditions at their actual fishing locations. Inconsistencies could lead to a loss of confidence in official warnings, he noted, adding that if fishermen are repeatedly told to expect strong winds but do not encounter such conditions, they may become less inclined to take future warnings seriously.
The family also called for stronger emergency infrastructure, including marine and air ambulances and a round-the-clock mechanism capable of responding immediately to incidents at sea. A response system that could function throughout the night was particularly important, as emergencies do not necessarily occur during normal office hours. They further urged that experienced fishermen be given a greater role in search and rescue operations.
Ms. Jiji said fishermen were regularly called upon to assist district authorities during floods and other disasters because of their knowledge of water bodies and their ability to respond quickly. The community's knowledge of the sea should be treated as an important resource during maritime emergencies, she stressed.
Responding to the demands, the Fisheries Minister acknowledged that developing a localised weather forecasting system was a challenge but said the government would examine the demand and work towards addressing it. He also stressed the importance of establishing a reliable two-way communication system between fishermen and government agencies, which would allow authorities to communicate updated warnings when sea conditions change after fishermen have already ventured into the water.
Mr. Gafoor added that the Fisheries Department was preparing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for dealing with fishermen who go missing, particularly during the crucial initial period referred to as the 'golden hour'. A definite SOP would be prepared within two weeks, he said.
Home Minister Chennithala said some issues along the coastal belt would require discussions with the Central government. He also raised concerns over the existing marine ambulance arrangements in the state. According to him, two marine ambulances had been purchased at a cost of around ₹18 crore using funds from the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. The vessels have remained unused for several months, and the government had already recognised the need to address their operational and maintenance issues.
