Barge accident: Pazhakulam native among missing persons

PALLIKKAL (PATHANAMTHITTA): A native of Pazhakulam is among those who went missing after a barge sank in Mumbai during cyclone Taukte. Vivek Surendran (32), son of Surendran of VV Villa in Alummoodu in Pazhakulam, went missing. He was a safety officer on the barge.

Authorities had sent a photo of the mobile phone they found via WhatsApp to family of Vivek on suspicion that it belonged to him. However, it was not Vivek's. No further messages were received. The family is in touch with Union Minister V Muraleedharan. Vivek last called home on the 16th. He had told his wife that he would return home on the 28th. On the 20th, three barges on an oil-related mission was involved in an accident. A barge sank completely. Sixty people, including five Malayalees, died. The search is on for 17 people. 188 people have been rescued.