Rameswaram, Oct 26: Four fishermen who had ventured into the sea from here, despite the rough weather yesterday, have not returned, Additional Director of Fisheries Velpandian said today.
In a complaint lodged with the Fisheries department by the kin of the missing persons, they had gone in a mechanised boat along with nearly 2,000 fishermen in 589 boats. Others, however, returned late last night or early this morning.
Velpandian said the sea was rough throughout the night and added Coast Guard personnel have been asked to search for the missing fishermen, Jerome, Selvam, Syed and Ryon.
Heavy rains lashed Ramanathapuram district for the second night yesterday with Ramanathapuram town recording 96.7 mm rain, Mandapam 66 mm, Rameswarm 45.3, Thangachimadam 23 mm and Pamban 20.9.
Officials said traffic on the Rameswaram highway was paralysed as the rainwater inundated the road. Water was flowing two feet above the road near Paramakudi town last night. Most parts of Paramakudi town were flooded, they added.
Ramanathapuram had received a record rainfall of 280 mm on Wednesday night.
