Defence Minister reviews situation as cyclone ockhi rescue operation speeds up


IndiaToday.in  | Edited By Manas Joshi
December 3, 2017 | UPDATED 19:28 IST
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman takes stock of the situationDefence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman takes stock of the situation

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has reached Kanyakumari to review the situation in the wake of cyclone ockhi. Tamilnadu deputy CM O Panneerselvam along with officials of Navy and coast guard are accompanying her as she reviews the damage done by the cyclone.

"357 fishermen have been saved as of 10 am today", Defence Minister said.

O Panneerselvam took stock of the situation earlier today. He visited Kaniyakumari and reviewed the damage.

The severe cyclonic storm over Lakshwadeep area will further moved northwestwards at a speed of 18 kmph during the next 12 hours.It is then expected to recurve northeastwards during the subsequent 48 hours and weaken gradually.

Following the latest development the Gujarat government has issued warning to fishing community from December 4.

The cyclone is expected to weaken into deep depression when it reaches the Gulf of Khambhat around December 6. The change is likely to be followed by heavy rainfall in the state of Gujarat.

Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea along and off south Gujarat and north Maharashtra coasts from Sunday night for the subsequent 48 hours.

The cyclone is centered 880 km southwest of Mumbai Meanwhile, the Indian Coast Guard has intensified its deployment of ships and aircraft off Kerala coast as well as Lakhadweep Islands.

The Indian Coast Guard said that its personnel are interacting and providing assistance to 28 boats, which have entered Maharashtra's Ratnagiri harbor, of these, 23 are from Tamil Nadu, three are from Karnataka and the other three from Kerala.

As on date, 11 ships, three dornier aircraft and three helicopters are undertaking extensive search operations in the affected area.

Commodore G Prakash, the Commanding Officer of INS Venduruthy, said 25 people were rescued from Lakshadweep and 13 were picked off the Kerala coast.

"We have rescued 25 people from Lakshadweep and picked 13 people off Kerala coast. The Navy is continuing conducting a massive search with 8-10 ships off Kerala coast. We also have three additional ships coming in from Mumbai, with food for almost 5,000 people. The Indian Navy is all out in this rescue operation," he told reporters here.

In the wee hours on December 3, the Indian Coast Guard ship 'Shoor' reached a remote island Suheli Par in Lakshadweep to rescue five fishermen from a stranded boat "FB Antony".

The island was almost on the path of the cyclone and bore maximum brunt of the storm.