Body of one of five missing fishermen identified

Chennai, Nov 7 (UNI) The body of one of the five missing fishermen of Kasimedu area in the city was identified as Veerappan today even as search for the others was on.

The body of Veerappan was washed ashore near Chennai port on October 31. Police recovered the same and kept it in the mortuary of Government Stanley hospital here, as unclaimed.

The family members of the missing fishermen had been visiting all mortuaries of Government hospitals in the city, where a number of unclaimed bodies were kept. They identified Veerappan's body.

After the formalities, the body was handed over to them, police said.

Official sources said, the search for locating the other four fishermen was still on.

It may be recalled that 11 fishermen from Kasimedu in North Chennai were among 23 who had put out to sea in four boats on October 31. However, 12 of them in two boats returned to the shore due to bad weather conditions on that day, while six others came back on Friday last.

A mechanised boat was found capsized near Nagapattinam coast yesterday. A group of fishermen from Kasimedu who went to Nagapttinam confirmed that the boat was used by the missing fishermen, the sources said.

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