The Muthalapozhi coastal estuary and fishing harbour at Perumathura were eerily silent on Saturday as strong winds accompanied by brief spells of intermittent rains lashed the region. The area, usually bustling with fishermen’s activities, has been witnessing a multi-agency rescue operation to locate Shijin, 32, a fisherman missing at sea since July 31.Sitting on the rocks along the bank of the estuary, Shefi Raju, Shijin’s sister, said the family had been waiting since early morning for a scuba team as the search entered its ninth day. However, the team arrived after 11.30 a.m. and entered the waters, but soon returned to their vessel after strong winds and rain made diving difficult.According to Shefi, the episode was a classic example of the apathy of successive governments towards fishermen despite recurring accidents and loss of lives in the region. “Even after eight days of Shijin’s disappearance, the State government agencies literally woke up from their slumber on Saturday, and that too after a public protest,” she said. The family was unsure whether Shijin remained in the area, although they continued to hope that he might be nearby.
Steeji, wife of Shijin, who went missing at sea off Muthalapozhi, at their residence in Anchuthengu, in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.
