Chennai (PTI): The Indian Navy has launched search operations to locate the 19 fishermen from Thangachimadam near Rameswaram as they have not returned home for the past two weeks after they went into the sea.

Replying to AIADMK's D Jayakumar, Fisheries Minister KPP Samy told the Assembly today that the search operations were on.

Jayakumar, who raised the issue, expressed apprehensions that the missing fishermen may have been kidnapped some terrorist organisation or taken into custody by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Meanwhile, Electricity Minister Arcot N Veeraswamy, responding to a query from AIADMK whip, K A Senkottaiyan, on the alleged disparity in distributing flood relief across the state, admitted there were some problems and assured addressing them soon.

"The respective District Collectors have been asked to look into the issue," he said, adding that the state had announced a sum of Rs 300 crore for immediate relief to flood victims.