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Cyclone Ockhi: Navy, Coast Guard save 33 Kerala fishermen (Lead)

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Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 1 (IANS) The Indian Navy and Coast Guard rescued 33 fishermen from the deep sea in the wake of cyclonic storm Ockhi that hit the southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Friday.

Vijayan, who held a high-level meeting, said there was no reason to panic as matters were under control with efforts of the Navy and Coast Guard. He also said they would ask the Defence Ministry for more naval aircraft to help rescue stranded fishermen.

Meanwhile, angry groups of fishermen in the coastal villages in Poovar, Vizhinjam and Kovalam have threatened to block the highways if the rescue operations are not intensified.

Addressing reporters here, Vijayan said: “Seven ships and four helicopters have been deployed and the Director General of shipping has also given directions to passing merchant ships to extend all help to fishermen caught in the sea. Two such ships rescued 10 fishermen. The biggest problem the rescue team is facing is that fishermen in the deep sea are not willing to let go their boats, which is creating a problem,” said Vijayan.

“We have decided to ask the Union Defence Ministry to send more aircraft, as according to meteorological reports, Lakshadweep and Kerala are going to face the sea’s wrath and hence more aircraft are needed,” said Vijayan, adding that fishermen in the deep sea have been given food packets.

Quoting meteorological reports, he said that it was a major relief that the cyclonic winds that were 70 km from the Kerala coastline on Thursday, are now around 200 km from the coast.

The meteorological office has predicted that rains will continue in Kerala for a day or two more and in Lakshadweep.

“The situation is such that in the deep sea, during these periods of bad weather, it’s not feasible to use helicopters for rescue operations,” said Sudevan, the IMD director here.

Several persons were killed on Thursday after cyclonic storm Ockhi hit the southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu due to a depression formed over southwest Bay of Bengal near the Sri Lankan coast.

It has moved westwards and intensified into a deep depression.

Kerala Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty told IANS that she has held a meeting with Vijayan.

“It’s wrong to say that fishermen are missing. The rescue teams have already saved 33, while 70 of them who are caught in the deep sea have started to respond to the messages sent to them,” said Mercykutty.

The meteorological office has predicted heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala.

“The state government acted in quick time when we heard about the bad weather conditions. An emergency meeting was called by the Chief Minister and a control room set up. We got in touch with the Navy and the Coast Guard, who immediately got going,” said the Minister.

“At some places, though, the sea is very rough and even the rescue team is unable to reach,” added the Minister.

Muthappan, a fisherman from near the Thiruvananthapuram airport who was rescued, told the media that he and four others were in a boat at around 2 p.m. on Thursday, when things started turning dangerous in the deep sea.

“We were thrown out of the boat and while four of us held on to the boat that had overturned, another person was holding on to a kerosene barrel.

“It was only after three hours that we were rescued by another boat,” said Muthappan, who was admitted to the General hospital here.

Vincent, another rescued fisherman, said they had left the seashore here around 10 a.m. on Thursday. “We had travelled around 10 nautical miles into the sea, when things started going bad.

“It was a nightmare as massive waves were smashing all around and the boat that we were on, after holding on for an hour, lost balance and overturned.

“While five of us after an hour were rescued, we have no idea of what happened to the two others who were with us,” said Vincent, who was spotted at the Vizhinjam beach, here.

–IANS
sg/rn/rn

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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.

The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.

Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.

Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.

For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.

During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.

Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.

Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .

Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.

In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.

In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.

He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.

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