I have written to the Central team assessing the damage of #Ockhicyclone urging them to declare it as a national calamity and to provide...
DMK leader M.K. Stalin urged the Central assessment team to declare Cyclone Ockhi a national calamity and provide immediate relief for Kanyakumari.
M.K.Stalin@mkstalinOriginal post
I have written to the Central team assessing the damage of #Ockhicyclone urging them to declare it as a national calamity and to provide immediate relief and rebuild infrastructure in Kanyakumari. https://t.co/1FQ6IQd9Em
DMK working president M.K. Stalin submitted a formal detailed memorandum on December 28, 2017, to the high-level Central team visiting Tamil Nadu to assess the catastrophic devastation inflicted by Cyclone Ockhi. Stalin urged the central government to officially declare the cyclone a national calamity of severe nature, emphasizing that the southern coastal district of Kanyakumari suffered unprecedented destruction of maritime livelihoods, horticultural plantations, electrical power networks, and residential infrastructure.
Stalin highlighted the tragic loss of life and enduring mystery surrounding hundreds of deep-sea fishermen who remained missing weeks after the severe storm. He criticized both the state and central administrations for delayed search-and-rescue operations and inadequate coordination. The memorandum demanded generous financial compensation packages for bereaved fishing families, subsidized replacement of damaged trawlers and fishing nets, loan waivers for affected farmers, and substantial central funding to reconstruct ruined infrastructure.
The DMK leader emphasized that federal assistance must reflect the true scale of human suffering rather than routine bureaucratic formulas. He called for accelerated disbursement of emergency relief funds directly to impacted coastal communities. Stalin affirmed that the DMK will persistently fight until full rehabilitation is achieved.