Cyclone Ockhi LIVE Updates: 13 Killed in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Over 200 Fishermen Rescued

Fishermen, tourists and coastal population have been advised not to venture into the sea for the next 48 hours as the sea conditions are likely to be non-conducive due to the effect of cyclone Ockhi, reports PTI. A Coast Guard (CG) advisory said the status of weather and sea conditions should bechecked on television, radio, newspapers and smart phone applications before venturing out into the sea. The merchant ships should also be alert and avoid the path of Cyclone Ockhi, it said.

Heavy rains are possible to continue for another 24 hours over Lakshadweep Islands.

Heavy rains are possible to continue for another 24 hours over Lakshadweep Islands: https://t.co/JLPBmazf7Z #CycloneOckhi #Weather #cyclone1 #cyclonealert #Ockhi #Cyclone @ndmaindia

— SkymetWeather (@SkymetWeather) December 2, 2017

#Weather Forecast for Dec 3: #CycloneOckhi to persist, well marked low in bay to intensify #Cyclone #Ockhi #ChennaiRains #Kerala #Lakshadweep #Gujarat #Mumbai #RescueOperation @indiannavy @DefenceMinIndia @adgpi @IndiaCoastGuard pic.twitter.com/eV8DmmWqVP

— SkymetWeather (@SkymetWeather) December 2, 2017

Leader of the opposition in the Kerala Assembly Ramesh Chennithala today urged PM Narendra Modi to declare cyclone Ockhi, which wrecked havoc in the state, Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep in the last two days, as a national disaster. In a letter to Modi, he requested that immediate central government assistance be provided in these places to deal with the emergency situation, reports PTI.

Though many fishermen were brought ashore safely and admitted to hospitals, many are yet to recover from the shock of wrestling the lashing waves and seeing death face-to-face. Stephan, a fisherman hailing from nearby Poonthura, said he was terrified on seeing a rescue boat move away without seeing them and hearing their cries. "It was the first time we were experiencing such huge waves and a rough sea. Luckily, the rescue boat came back and saved us," Stephan, who is recuperating at the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, said in a statement to PTI. Most of the rescued fishermen had bruises all over their bodies and were seen shivering and begging for hot water and food when brought ashore, said a PTI report.

Navy rescues 218 stranded fishermen. The Tamil Nadu government has requested the Centre to deploy the Indian Navy and Coast Guard for the search and rescue of missing fishermen, mostly from Kanyakumari, in the wake of cyclone Ockhi. 

Five more people died due to Cyclone Ockhi. Rescue team brought them to the shore from deep sea but their lives could not be saved. 

A satellite image of Cyclone Ockhi.

INS Nireekshak breaks waves to provide assistance to fishermen during cyclone Ockhi.

Predicted path of Cyclone Ockhi

It was Thiruvananthapuram district Collector S.Vasuki who told the media, on Friday evening, that she wished to thank the Japanese government as one of their ships had rescued 60 fishermen after Cyclone Ockhi struck the Kerala coasts.

The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard continue the search for missing fishermen using ships, dornier aircraft and helicopters in the "rough sea" off Kerala and Lakshadweep in the wake of Cyclone Ockhi. While INS Nireekshak, INS Jamuna and INS Sagardhwani are continuing search and rescue operations in their designated areas along the coast off Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, two ships INS Shardul and INS Sharda are heading towards Lakshadweep, a defence spokesman said. The naval ships, which left from the Southern Naval Command in Kochi yesterday, are likely to reach Lakshadweep this evening. 

#CycloneOckhi: Very severe cyclonic storm #Ockhi will continue to batter #Lakshadweep Islands with torrential rains. It is still persisting over Lakshadweep and adjoining Southeast Arabian Sea. Meanwhile, #rains would reduce further in #Kerala and #TamilNadu. @ndmaindia @NDRFHQ

— SkymetWeather (@SkymetWeather) December 2, 2017

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan says 393 people have been rescued across the state in the wake of Cyclone Ockhi, adding that families of those who died in rain-related deaths will be given Rs 10 lakh compensation.

Early morning visuals from Lakshadweep; destruction caused by strong winds & high tides. #CycloneOckhi pic.twitter.com/kO26bbSjlK

— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2017

As many as 102 Kerala fishermen are yet to return home and the Indian Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard have resume joint search operations, Thiruvananthapuram district Collector S Vasuki has said. She, however, added that the fishermen cannot be termed as "missing". "These fishermen had gone into the sea. They are yet to reach home or have not been able to contact relatives. The search operations now are aimed towards the Alappuzha area as the boats would have run out of fuel. They would be drifting according to the wind direction. Hence the search operations are focusing towards Alappuzha," news agency IANS quoted her as saying.

The 'very severe' cyclonic storm Ockhi — which in Bengali means 'eye' — over Lakshadweep is likely to intensify further in the next 24 hours. It is likely to continue to move west-northwestwards across Lakshadweep islands during the next 24 hours and then recurve north eastwards during the subsequent 48 hours, according to the latest Met department bulletin. Gale winds with speed reaching 120-130kmph gusting to 145kmph is very likely over Lakshadweep in the next 24 hours and gradually decrease thereafter, the Met bulletin said. Giant waves were expected along the Kerala coast.

Several houses suffered damage, coconut trees got uprooted and communication lines were disrupted as rains accompanied by strong winds lashed the Lakshadweep islands under the influence of Cyclone Ockhi. Five fishing boats were damaged early today at Kalpeni island as water level rose due to heavy rains. 

PM Narendra Modi spoke to Tamil Nadu CM Palaniswami over phone last night and assured required assistance in view of Cyclone Ockhi. A press release by the TN government said the CM would soon seek central funds for the damage caused by the cyclone Ockhi in the southern parts of the state, with Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts being the worst hit. The CM apprised PM Modi of the various relief works going on in "full swing" in seven districts of the state. Cyclone Ockhi, which in Bengali means 'eye', had yesterday intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and moved to the Arabian Sea.

Very severe #CycloneOckhi to intensify, #Lakshadweep to get very heavy #rains: https://t.co/HWMRuV0WFs #Weather #cyclone1 #Chennai #Chennairains #Kerala #cyclonealert #TamilNadu #Ockhi #Cyclone #Kanyakumari #Lakshadweep

— SkymetWeather (@SkymetWeather) December 2, 2017

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami has announced a solatium of Rs 4 lakh to the kin of each of those killed in rain-related incidents. Over 1,200 persons affected by the heavy rain in Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts of the state, have been lodged in relief camps. To expedite relief works in the worst hit Kanyakumari, two teams of National Disaster Response Force and seven teams of state disaster response agency have been deputed. In Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts, heavy rains and gusty winds uprooted 579 trees.

The media coverage, rather no media coverage of cyclone Ockhi says a lot about our priorities. And, our failure.

Torrential wind and rain unleashed by Cyclone Ockhi has shut down schools in Chennai where conditions are set to worsen. Power has been cut for millions in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. India's eastern coast is prone to seasonal storms that wreak immense damage between April and December. In 1999, more than 8,000 people were killed when a cyclone battered Orissa. 

Tamil Nadu: Heavy rain lashed Tirunelveli. Traffic halted on the Karupanthurai - Melapalyam link road as the low-lying bridge was submerged in Thamirabarani river (01.12.2017) #CycloneOckhi pic.twitter.com/OiLSbWNErZ

— ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2017

The Central Water Commission (CWC) has warned that the heavy downpour in Tamil Nadu and Kerala might trigger a rapid rise in the water level of rivers in the two southern states. A CWC advisory said the west-flowing rivers in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzzha and Ernakulam in Kerala were likely to rise over the next 24 hours and then, slowly fall as the rains reduced. However, the rivers in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari were likely to remain in a "high flood" situation during the period. The Papanasam and Manimutharu dams in Tamil Nadu were likely to get heavy inflows due to the rainfall for the next 12 to 24 hours. The east-flowing Tambraparani river was likely to rise all along its course in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts of the state during the next two-three days.

Cyclone Ockhi maintains its hold  

The very severe #CycloneOckhi continued to maintain its strength over #Lakshadweep. The system may intensity further and move across the Islands. Thereafter, it may recurve northeastwards. #OckhiCyclone #Ockhi

— SkymetWeather (@SkymetWeather) December 2, 2017

In Kerala, two fishermen died while 218 others were safely evacuated in rescue operations jointly launched by the Indian Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard in the seas off the state as heavy rains lashed the area under the influence of Cyclone Ockhi. Cyclonic storm Ockhi had hit the southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Thursday, and caused widespread destruction in the southern districts of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. The rescue operations that began on Friday morning comprised 11 ships of the Navy, Coast Guard and Coastal Police, six helicopters and two Dornier aircraft.

Cyclone Ockhi battered Kalpeni and Minicoy islands in the Lakshadweep late on Friday but there were no reports of casualties. While five fishing boats sank off Minicoy,an equal number sank off Kalpeni, MP PP Mohammed Faizal said. Precautionary measures have been taken at Kavaratti and Agatti islands where the cyclone was expected to hit next. Heavy rains, meanwhile, continued to batter coastal areas of Kerala and south Tamil Nadu, claiming at least 16 lives and crippling normal life in the two states.