The search and rescue operation for the fishermen missing at sea in the wake of Cyclone Ockhi gathered momentum on Monday with 105 fishing boats pressed into service to comb the offshore areas. This followed the discussions Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had with boat owners on Sunday. 30 boats While 30 boats joined the rescue mission from Beypore, 25 boats each put out to sea from Neendakara, Kochi and Munambam. Each vessel with five fishermen on board will carry out grid search operations at sea from Neendakara to Mangalapuram. An official pressnote issued here said a fisherman or body spotted by a vessel would be first shifted to the lead boat for preservation on board and later transferred to a fisheries patrol boat. The Fisheries department is coordinating the operation. The pressnote said the search operations would continue till December 22. The government has agreed to foot the expense on fuel and allowance for the fishers. Providing succour Meanwhile, Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma visited the houses of the missing fishermen at Vettucaud, Kochuveli and Thumba on Monday to provide succour to the distressed families. She assured the families that the search operations had been intensified. The Minister said the Government was one with the grieving families and that they would receive the promised relief without delay. She also visited the Vettucaud church and sought the support of the church committee to identify land for housing. Karichal Preman, president of the Beypore Harbour Development Committee said more fishing boats would be deployed if the situation demanded. Expressing solidarity with the search initiative, the All Kerala Fish Merchants Association, on Monday, said the fishermen would donate their one day’s earning for supporting the Ockhi rehabilitation projects.