Cyclone Ockhi: Death Toll Rises to 19 in Kerala, Over 690 Fishermen Rescued

Chennai, December 4: The death toll in rain-related incidents due to cyclone Ockhi rose to 19 in Kerala. Over 690 fishermen, stranded at sea off state's coast, have been rescued in combined operations

Chennai, December 4: The death toll in rain-related incidents due to cyclone Ockhi rose to 19 in Kerala. Over 690 fishermen, stranded at sea off state’s coast, have been rescued in combined operations carried out by the Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force. Ninety six fishermen are still missing.

While 74 houses were fully damaged and 1122 houses were partially damaged. Also read: IMD started issuing alerts about Ockhi from Nov 28: Vardhan

A fresh spell of rainfall is expected to lash Tamil Nadu as the well-marked low pressure area over the south Andaman Sea is likely to turn into a depression in the next 24 hours and a deep depression in the subsequent 48 hours, the Met office said. Also read: Tourism affected as high tides due to Ockhi flood Goa beaches

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reached Kanyakumari on Sunday and reviewed the search and rescue operation in Tamil Nadu and Kerala along with senior officials.

On her arrival in the worst-hit Kanyakumari district by helicopter from Thiruvanathapuram in Kerala, Sitharaman held discussions with deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam, ministers and officials.

A report from Kanyakumari said she visited some cyclone- hit areas in the district.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan along with Union minister Alphons Kannamthanam held a high-level meeting in Thiruvanathapuram to assess the post Ockhi situation and relief and rescue operations.

The Navy is continuing with its rescue operations over southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands in aftermath of the cyclone. Ten naval ships including capital ships like Chennai and Kolkata are being deployed over southeast Arabian sea and Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands

Commander Sridhar Warrier PRO (Defence), Kochi, said Indian Naval ships Chennai, Trikand and Kolkata are stationed around the islands with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) materials. The ships are equipped with desalination plants amd will be able to provide the islands fresh water as and when required. The total relief material would sustain approximately 5000 persons for a period of seven days.

With inputs from Agencies