TN taking steps to trace eight missing fishermen

Tamil Nadu government is taking all steps to search and rescue eight fishermen from the state who reportedly went missing while fishing on the West coast when cyclone 'Phyan' crossed Maharashtra, state fisheries department said today.

The fishermen from Kanyakumari had left in about 150 mechanised boats since November 1 from Kerala and they were fishing on the coast from North Kerala to Gujarat, the department said in a release here.

"They were severely affected due to cyclone Phyan and based on reports from local fishermen associations, seven boats sank and eight fishermen were reported to be missing," the release said.

Some of the injured persons were rescued by fishermen in Goa and admitted to a local hospital, the release said adding they have returned home following treatment.

The rest of the affected boats besides the seven that sank had been towed back and docked in Kochi (Kerala) and Karwar (Karnataka), the release said, adding the rest were returning to base in Kerala and Maharashtra.

"The state government has taken up on a war-footing required measures to search and rescue the missing fishermen. There is no need to panic," the release said.