Cyclone Ockhi: More than 250 boats missing, Indian Navy rescues over 60 fishermen

With the first tropical storm of the season wrecking havoc across southern states, various flights have been cancelled and holiday declared for schools in nine districts.

IndiaToday.in  | Edited by Sonalee Borgohain and Mohak Gupta
New Delhi, December 1, 2017 | UPDATED 19:54 IST
Heavy rains kill 8 in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. (Photo: Twitter | @Jikkuvarghese) Heavy rains kill 8 in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. (Photo: Twitter | @Jikkuvarghese)

Heavy rains lashed southern districts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala claiming at least 16 lives and crippling normal life after slight depression over Sri Lanka gained strength making favourable conditions for a cyclone.

Latest observations, Radar and satellite images indicate that the cyclonic storm over southeast Arabian Sea moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 25 kmph during the last six hours and lay centered over southeast Arabian Sea, about 230 km west of Thiruvanathapuram and 160 km east of Minicoy.

The system is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours. It is likely to move west-northwestwards across Lakshadweep Islands in the 24 hours and move further northwestwards during the subsequent 24 hours.

Here are the live updates:

  • 'Very severe' cyclonic storm over Lakshadweep.
  • Ram Nath Kovind tweeted that he's 'confident' that citizens will help each other.
  • Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the government of Kerala has asked the defence ministry to deploy more aircraft for rescue operations as the cyclonic storm is moving towards Lakshadweep.
  • The Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force are engaged in rescue operations with their ships, aircraft and helicopters. Besides engaging divers, the Indian Navy has deployed two aircraft and an advanced light helicopter (ALH).
  • Rescued fishermen were brought to Trivandrim Air Force Station and later for treatment.
  • Meteorologist Mahesh Palawat tweeted Cyclone Ockhi and other two intense weather system seen over Indian Ocean.
  • Two passenger trains from Nagercoil to Thiruvananthapuram cancelled.
  • In the last six hours, Amini Devi has recorded rain to the tune of 5 mm, Minicoy 68 mm, Kanyakumari 6 mm, Thiruvananthapuram 33 mm, Tiruchirappalli 18 mm, Puducherry 1 mm, Cuddalore 18 mm, Nagapattinam 3 mm and Minambakkam in Chennai 4 mm.
  • Two fishing boats Arokia Mary and Hermen Mary from Kanyakumari reported missing due Cyclone Ockhi since November 20 with eight crew memebers each rescued by Coast Guard Ship C-427 off Vizhinjam in Kerala.
  • More than 130 families from Chellanam, more than 15 families from Kumbalangi and as many as 18 families from Edavanakad rehabilitated from the coastal areas in Kerala.
  • Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management's Twitter account shared photos of Kanyakumari collector and his team officers taking part in rescue operations.
  • Thiruvananthapuram MP and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor tweeted photos of fishermen rescued by the Indian Navy being brought in.
  • Over 250 boats that left Kochi missing still. At least 200 people onboard these boats. People in Poonthura are protesting against the government alleging ineffective rescue operations, said a report in Malayala Manorama.
  • In Kanyakumari district, five people died, 22 fishermen have gone missing, 62 houses have been fully damaged and 240 houses have been partly damaged due to heavy rains.
    •  In Kerala, people stranded due to heavy rains were rescued by Navy and coastal guards.
    •  Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edapaddi Palaniswamy grants Rs 4 lakh to kin of five people killed in rain-related incidents in Kanyakumari.
    • Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said there were serious lapses from the on the part of the state disaster management department. The alert from Hyderabad was not sent to the government on time.
    • Cyclone warning was issued on November 27, fishermen still went out to sea: Sunil Lanba
    • According to Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba, Navy has identified 39 fishermen marooned in the sea and rescue operations are underway.
    • "It's wrong to say that the fishermen are missing. The rescue teams have already saved 33, while 70 of them, who are currently still caught in the deep sea have started to respond to the messages that have been send to them," said Kerala fisheries minister J Mercykutty after meeting CM Pinarayi Vijayan.
    • Mumbai coast guard ships are on standby for rescue operations.
    •  MeT department is in an emergency internal meet in Delhi over cyclone Ockhi. They will hold a video conference meeting with all cyclone department officials.
    • Cyclonic storm ockhi over southeastern Arabian Sea and cyclone warning for Kerala and Lakshadweep Islands- Red message.
    • Ockhi intensified into severe cyclone and lies at about 110 km northeast of Minicoy in Lakshadweep. Likely to cross the Islands in the next 24 hours.
    • Long Range Maritime Surveillance Aircraft P8I deployed at first light from Rajali this morning sighted 7 survivors hanging on to a capsized boat about 25 miles west of Tivandrum.
    • Five boats sinked at Kalpeni in Lakshadweep island due to cyclone. No casualties.
    • As per state report, 5 dead in Kanyakumari alone.
    • Cyclonic storm Ockhi over southeast Arabian Sea. Warning for southern Kerala, adjoining districts of south Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep Islands- Orange message.
    • P8I aircraft, Navy Dornier and Coast Guard Dornier also airborne for search and rescue. Helicopter on standby with divers.
    • 5 Navy ships deployed from Kochi. 2 ships on standby in Lakshadweep. 2 ICG ships each deployed from Kochi and Tuticorin.
    •  Holiday declared for schools in Sivaganga, Nilgiris, Dindigul, Salem and Tiruvannamala districts in Tamil Nadu.
    •  Flights to Tuticorin cancelled due to cyclone.
    • Cyclone Ockhi Holiday declared for Chennai Schools:  Rain holiday declared for schools in nine districts - Chennai, Kanchipuram, Kanyakumari, Nellai,  Theni, Dindigul, Villupuram,  Madurai & Thoothukud

    Cyclone Ockhi warning issued for southern Kerala, adjoining districts of Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep Islands. (Photo: IMD)

    With the first tropical storm of the season wrecking havoc across southern states, several flights have been cancelled and holiday declared for schools in nine districts including Chennai, Kanchipuram, Kanyakumari, Nellai, Theni, Dindigul, Villupuram, Mudurai and Thoothukudi.  

    The Tamil Nadu government has called in the Navy to rescue fishermen from coastal areas. Coast guard has also been deployed in rain-hit areas.

    Meanwhile, the MeT department has predicted storm in next 24 hours.

    RAINFALL WARNING

    Heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (>20 cm) very likely over Lakshadweep during the next 24  hours. Heavy rainfall at isolated places likely over Kerala in the next 24 hours.

    WIND WARNING

    Gale winds speed reaching 110-120 kmph gusting to 130 kmph likely over and around Lakshadweep Islands during the next 24 hours and gradual decrease thereafter.

    SEA CONDITION

    Sea conditions would be high to very high over and around Lakshadweep Islands during the next 24 hours and high during the subsequent 24 hours.

    Sea conditions would be high to very high along and off Kerala coast during the next 24 hours and along and off Karnataka coast during the subsequent 24 hours.

    DAMAGE EXPECTED OVER  LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS

    Damage to power and communication lines due to breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees. Major damage to thatched  houses /huts: Major damage to kutcha houses, some damage to pucca roads and flooding of escape routes. Damage to banana trees, papaya trees and standing crops.