more-in NAGERCOIL Asserting that the district administration has taken every possible step to face the predicted heavy downpour on Sunday, Collector Prashant M. Wadanere has said 80 mechanised boats with 700-odd fishermen from the district have to return to the shore from deep-sea fishing while all other boats had been alerted on the impending danger. Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, Mr. Prashant said 646 of the 566 mechanised boats from the district, which had ventured into the sea for multiday deep-sea fishing from the bases in the district and also in other States, had been alerted on the heavy downpour and the low-pressure predictions for Sunday by the Indian Meteorological Department. Of this, 430 boats had already returned to their bases and 136 boats were on their way back to the shores on getting the alerts. Since 80 boats could not be contacted as these vessels were fishing beyond 700 nautical miles, special efforts had been taken through the Indian Navy and the merchant navy vessels to reach them, the Collector said. “We don’t know if these 80 boats have received the message or not. However, our efforts to reach all these boats are continued. Indian Navy’s two Dornier aircraft and one more Dornier belonging to Indian Coast Guard’s station at Thoothukudi have been pressed into service to locate the boats and alert them. Our efforts will continue until the message is taken to all these boats to ensure their early return to the shores,” Mr. Prashant said. He said all 9 zonal teams had been deployed in the vulnerable areas along with trained police personnel, as a precautionary measure. Moreover, 2 NDRF teams, each having 30 personnel had reached the district for rescue and relief operations. The Collector said the storage level in Petchiparai and Perunchani dams was being monitored constantly. In case of a heavy downpour, discharge of water from the dam in the river would be stepped up and hence the public should keep themselves away from the river.

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