Nine Kasimedu fishermen who died in a Cyclone Murasu-related tragedy have prompted renewed questions over the response to missing-person reports, relief assistance and support for bereaved families in Tamil Nadu.
Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Udhayanidhi Stalin, met the families in Chennai and said the DMK supported their demand for government jobs for each affected family. Speaking to ANI, Stalin described the incident as tragic and alleged that adequate steps had not been taken despite complaints to the police and information being given to officials.
The fishermen departed from Chennai’s Kasimedu fishing harbour on October 29, according to the report. They reportedly experienced engine failure near Ramayapatnam Port in Andhra Pradesh on November 3, during Cyclone Murasu. The report said nine fishermen were involved and that a body had been recovered.
“The families are telling me that, even though they have been submitting complaints to the police station and informing the officials, no proper action was taken,” Stalin said. He added that the Tamil Nadu government had announced relief of Rs 7 lakh and an additional amount of around Rs 2 lakh, while the families were seeking government employment for each household.
Stalin said he had been visiting the families and offering support. His comments place the demand for state employment alongside immediate financial relief, highlighting the differing forms of assistance being sought after the deaths of working fishermen. The report did not provide details of any government decision on the employment demand.
The incident has also drawn criticism from DMK MP Kanimozhi, who said the Tamil Nadu government should take responsibility and increase relief for the bereaved families. She questioned why action was not taken after the fishermen were reported missing and why the Fisheries Minister had not visited those affected.
“The news that fishermen from Chennai’s Kasimedu were caught in Cyclone Murasu and lost their lives is heartbreaking,” Kanimozhi said, according to the report. She also called for enhanced assistance to the families.
The allegations regarding delayed action and the adequacy of the official response were made by opposition leaders and were not accompanied in the report by a response from the Tamil Nadu government, its Fisheries Department or the Fisheries Minister. The report also did not state whether a formal inquiry had been ordered, provide details of the search and rescue operation, or specify the final status of all nine fishermen.
The immediate issues before the authorities are the recovery and identification process, confirmation of the circumstances surrounding the deaths, disbursal of announced relief and the families’ demand for government employment. Further official statements are required to establish the government’s account of the incident and its next steps.
