Connect with us

National

Cyclone Ockhi: Families of 1,000 missing Kanyakumari fishermen demand intensified searches

Published

on

Chennai, Dec 2 (IANS) Family members of around 1,000 fishermen from Kanyakumari district who ventured into the deep seas when Cyclone Ockhi struck the southern Tamil Nadu coast have demanded that aerial searches and rescue operations be launched to trace the missing men.

Protesting on the roads, the families on Saturday said the fisher folk had ventured into the sea in around 100 boats three days back and have not returned.

Several boats appear to have capsized due to heavy winds and rains after the cyclone made landfall in the state and neighbouring Kerala on Thursday and the stormy conditions continue in the area.

DMK Working President M.K.Stalin also wrote to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, on behalf on the fishermen families, saying: “Their families are very much afraid that the lives of the stranded fishermen are in great danger.”

He told Sitharaman “immediate rescue measures must be undertaken by the Indian Coast Guard”.

Kanyakumari is one of the districts heavily battered by the cyclone since Thursday.

According to the protesters, no one from the authorities has come and met them yet.

They are now demanding use of helicopters to carry out the search and rescue operations.

On Friday, Chief Minister K. Palaniswami had instructed officials to take steps to locate 30 fishermen on 11 boats who went missing at sea.

The state government in a statement said the Fisheries Department and coastal security agencies had so far rescued 76 fishermen in 18 boats.

However, officials were not available for comment on the rescue operations when contacted by IANS.

The Indian Coast Guard on Friday said two of its ships from Tuticorin had sailed out on Thursday for the search and rescue of the stranded fishing boats at sea.

It also said its Dornier aircraft was launched for the coordinated sea air search for the missing boats.

Late on Friday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Palaniswami over phone and assured the central government’s assistance for relief work.

Palaniswami told Modi that the state government would make detailed study on the damages and send a report to the Centre.

The Chief Minister also told Modi that seven districts, mainly Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli, were affected by Cyclone Ockhi.

–IANS
vj/in/rn

Continue Reading

National

Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

Published

on

By

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.

Continue Reading

Trending