The Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department prohibited fishermen in Tuticorin from venturing into the sea until further notice due to a cyclone threat. Over 7,000 boats remain moored, affecting 50,000 people. The IMD warned of squally winds on November 13 and 14, as officials monitor the coast to ensure safety.
Tuticorin: The Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has prohibited fishermen in Tuticorin district from venturing into the sea until further notice, as a new low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a cyclone.
Following the ban, fishing operations have come to a standstill across coastal villages from Vembar to Periyathazhai. More than 270 mechanised boats, 2,000 country boats, and 5,000 fibre boats remain moored at the Tuticorin fishing harbour and along the coast, affecting the livelihoods of over 50,000 fishermen in the district.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that the low-pressure system may concentrate into a depression and subsequently into a cyclonic storm. The IMD forecast indicates that squally winds are likely to prevail over the sea, including the Gulf of Mannar and Comorin areas, on November 13 and 14.
The strict enforcement of the fishing ban comes in the wake of the recent Cyclone Murasu, which claimed the lives of nine fishermen from Kasimedu in Chennai after their boat capsized.
Fisheries Department officials are continuously monitoring the situation to ensure all fishing vessels have returned safely, while broadcasting urgent warnings for any remaining deep-sea boats to immediately head back to shore.