John Mathias’ family takes exception to remarks on missing fishermen, demands overhaul of rescue system during Kerala Ministers’ visit

The family of John Mathias, a fisherman missing for 11 days, has expressed deep distress over remarks made by Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and other officials regarding fishermen venturing into the sea. The family, who rely heavily on the sea for their livelihood, said that such comments may hurt their community. John Mathias' children, Ramesh Chennithala and V.E.

Abdul Gafoor, visited the family on Monday to discuss their demands for better safety measures, faster rescue operations, and improved weather warnings. The family emphasized that their concerns were not politically motivated but were driven by their anguish and uncertainty since Mr. Mathias went missing. They demanded a localised weather forecasting system to provide accurate information about specific fishing locations and stronger emergency infrastructure, including marine and air ambulances, and a 24-hour response system.

The Fisheries Minister acknowledged the challenge of developing a localised weather forecasting system and stated that the government would examine the demand. He also emphasized the importance of establishing a reliable two-way communication system between fishermen and government agencies. The Home Minister mentioned that two marine ambulances, procured at a cost of ₹18 crore, have been unused for several months and called for addressing their operational and maintenance issues.

The Ministers visited the house of Shijin, a native of Muthalapozhi, and took stock of the ongoing multi-agency search operation at the location.