Cyclone Ockhi leaves 13 killed in Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Chennai, Dec 1 (IBNS): The death toll in the devastating Cyclone Ockhi rose to 13 on Friday while almost 90 fishermen were reported to be missing in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, media reports.
About seven people died in coastal Kerala and six in Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, Cyclone Ockhi intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and moved towards Lakshadweep.
The Met office has issued heavy to very heavy rainfall warning for Lakshadweep.
Earlier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to DG NDRF and reviewed the situation in the areas affected by cyclone Ockhi.
In Kanyakumari and Thoothukudi districts of Tamil Nadu, strong winds uprooted more than 500 trees, snapped power lines and damaged settlements close to the sea, reported NDTV on Friday.
Schools have shut down in many of the affected areas.
According to media reports, the heavy rains have left eight people dead in the two southern states.
The Indian Navy has rescued eight fishermen out in the sea, of whom two are in critical condition, local media said.
According to another report, the Navy is engaged in rescuing 24 stranded people.
The NDRF teams have already been moved to the affected areas. More teams are on standby to respond to any further emergencies. Ministry of Home Affairs is also closely monitoring the situation, the ministry said in a tweet.
In a tweet, the Indian Coast Guard stated:
@IndiaCoastGuard continues #CycloneOckhi response with 09 Ships and 02 Dornier Aircraft off Kerala and Tamil Nadu Coast. 52 Fishermen rescued so far . International Safety Net (ISN) activated to advise Merchant Traffic to render assistance. @DefenceMinIndia @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/QJDOh4g5pn
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) December 1, 2017
.The name Ockhi was given by Bangladesh, under the the tropical cyclone naming system initiated by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in 2000.
The next cyclone will be named Sagar, given by India.
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