MUMBAI: The father of 36-year-old Saneesh Joseph, one of the victims of the P-305 barge tragedy, has decided to contribute Rs1 lakh to the
CM’s Relief Fund
in Kerala and the balance Rs1 lakh compensation to upgrading a library in their native
Kannur district
. Saneesh, a bachelor, died two days after he celebrated his birthday onboard P-305. He was to return home this month-end.
Joseph TT announced he would donate the entire compensation given by ONGC. “My father decided to contribute 50% to the CM’s Relief Fund and 50% to Suvarna Arts and Sports Club in Valiyaparamba, Kannur,” his brother Aneesh told TOI over the phone from Kerala. Aneesh said they lost communication with Saneesh, who was a rigger on the barge, two days after his birthday.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh resident Farooque Shaikh has been doing the rounds of JJ Hospital as his younger brother, Shabbir, 34, who was a cook on the ill-fated barge when it sank during
Cyclone Tautae
last week, is still missing. “Police have taken my blood samples to match it. My father keeps calling to inquire about Shabbir. I don’t know what to tell him,” said Shaikh.
Rayaman Chauhan, 70, too has come from Uttar Pradesh to find out about his son, Umesh, 34. Umesh had left home to join work on P305 a year ago. The youngest of his three children is a year old. Chauhan says his younger son was preparing to join a rig too. “In this situation, we will not send him,” said Chauhan.