Kollam (Kerala) | Kerala Fisheries Minister V E Abdul Gafoor on Tuesday said the government will frame within two weeks an SOP for emergency response to sea-related accidents.
Speaking to reporters here after visiting the family of Gautam Krishna, one of three fishermen missing in separate boat mishaps off the state's coasts, Gafoor said the search for the missing fishers was still underway but had not yielded any results so far.
"It is unfortunate that the search has not yielded any results so far. The search mission is continuing," he said.
The search, which entered its 12th day on Tuesday, involves major agencies including the Coastal Police, Coast Guard and Indian Navy, he said.
The minister said the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) would help ensure an effective emergency response during the "golden hour" immediately after an accident.
"The family expressed satisfaction over the ongoing search mission. However, they pointed out the need for an emergency response during the golden hour. Within two weeks, the government will frame an SOP in this regard," Gafoor said.
He also stressed the need to modernise equipment used in search and rescue operations.
The government will ensure the availability of modern equipment, including drones, underwater cameras and rescue boats, the minister added.
When asked about the family's earlier protest over his failure to visit them, the minister said he had focused on the search and rescue operations during the initial days.
He said Forest and Wildlife Minister Shibu Baby John, whose constituency includes the area, had been visiting and consoling the family since the first day.
Gautam Krishna had gone missing following a boat mishap at Neendakara in Kollam on July 31. His father and grandfather also died in the mishap.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan and Shibu Baby John had visited Gautam's house at Neendakara and met his mother on Monday.
The other two missing fishermen are John and Shijin, who went missing in separate boat mishaps at Vizhinjam and Muthalappozhi in Thiruvananthapuram district on the same day.
Meanwhile, the Indian Navy, Coastal Police and Marine Enforcement Wing continued their search for the three missing fishermen on Tuesday.