Cyclonic Ockhi likely to weaken, more rains predicted in TN, Andhra; over 530 fishermen rescued

Ass many as 531 fishermen, stranded in the choppy waters off the Kerala and Lakshadweep coasts due to Cyclone Ockhi, have been rescued.

PTI photo

CHENNAI: Cyclonic storm 'Ockhi' is likely to weaken gradually from Sunday, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

"The very severe cyclonic storm 'Ockhi' over Lakshadweep area and adjoining Southeast Arabian Sea further moved northwestwards with a speed of 15 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 2330 hrs IST of December 2, 2017 over southeast Arabian Sea near Latitude 11.1º N and Longitude 69.7º E, about 330 km west of Amini Divi. The system is very likely to weaken gradually from today the December 3, 2017 morning," said IMD.

Cyclonic storm Ockhi is now 275km SW of Amini Devi likely to move NW direction during next 12 hrs and weaken gradually impacts to reduce from tomorrow. IMD issued early warnings on 29th itself for TN KERALA & LAKSHADWEEP &advised fishermen not to venture into sea. pic.twitter.com/WDqW2cz1X7 — Dr. Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) December 2, 2017

The deadly cyclone, which had claimed many lives, lashed the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Kerala on Saturday with torrential rainfall and gusty winds. Both the states had declared compensation to the families of those who died in the storm.

On Saturday, several stranded fishermen were rescued during the massive search operations carried out by INS ships.

The Coast Guard rescued 198 fishermen and 18 fishing boats of Tamil Nadu off the Western coast. The rescued fishermen have taken shelter in the Lakshadweep and Minicpy Group of Islands.

29 relief camps have been set up to accommodate those marooned in coastal areas.  

As many as 531 fishermen, stranded in the choppy waters off the Kerala and Lakshadweep coasts due to Cyclone Ockhi, have been rescued. 

The Kerala government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the cyclonic storm. 

Among the rescued, 393 people are Kerala residents. Besides, 138 fishermen have been rescued from the Lakshadweep islands.

The Pinarayi Vijayan-led government called the Centre to declare Cyclone Ockhi, which left a trail of destruction in the state, a national calamity. 

Defence Minister N Sitharaman, on Friday, had confirmed that six warships and two coast guard ships were deployed along with additional air effort. 

In Kanyakumari, family members of missing fishermen staged a sit-in before state ministers RB Udhaya Kumar and P Thangamani for a while. 

Over 60 fishing vessels from Tamil Nadu and Kerala were asked to dock at a port in Maharashtra on Saturday as the menacing Ockhi made their return journey unsafe.

Meanwhile, a fresh spell of heavy rain is in store in some areas of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry with a low-pressure area forming over south Andaman sea, which is "very likely" to become a depression over the Bay of Bengal. 

The system is likely to move towards Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh in the next three to four days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. 

With 'Ockhi' wreaking havoc in South Tamil Nadu, the state government said it will soon seek central funds for the damage caused by the cyclone. This was conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Chief Minister K Palaniswami during a telephone conversation between the two leaders last night, a state government release said. 

The state government requested the Centre to deploy helicopters of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard to search and rescue missing fishermen, mostly from Kanyakumari. 

In Kanyakumari, power supply had been restored even as efforts are on to resume power supply in neighbouring areas like Nagercoil and Kuzhithurai. CM Palaniswami has announced Rs 25 crore for expediting relief and restoration work in the district. 

Stepping up their efforts, the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard continued the search for missing fishermen using ships, dornier aircraft and helicopters in the sea off Kerala and Lakshadweep. 

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, INS Shardul and INS Sharda are heading towards Lakshadweep. 

INS Sagardhwani recovered one body, 30 km off the Thiruvananthapuram coast. The ship had earlier found another body, a defence spokesperson said. 

Fifteen fishermen rescued by the Coast Guard are being brought to the Thiruvananthapuram coast, the official said. 

#CycloneOckhi update @IndiaCoastGuard ship rescued 15 fishermen at sea off Vizhinjam/Quilon (Kerala) Coast and heading towards shore for safe disembarkation of fisher-folks @DefenceMinIndia @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/39gJrfI20Z — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) December 2, 2017

Four fishermen were rescued by a Navy chopper this morning, 20 miles off Kochi. 

(With Agency inputs)