Ruinous Ockhi keeps on playing with the lives; Kills 19 and around 100 fishermen missing
690 fishermen stranded at sea off Kerala coast have been rescued in combined operations carried out by the Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force. A total of 6,581 persons have been shifted to various relief camps in the state. The very severe cyclonic storm Ockhi lay centred over east central and south east central Arabian Sea.
Chief Ministers of both the state governments had alerted Air and Navy forces, Coast guards and help the local public and shift them away from the cyclone prone areas. They had also instructed that advance announcement to be made in case of opening of dam shutters.
Defence Minister N Sitharaman has assured full central assistance in rescue and relief operations by visiting the cyclone affected areas.
Naval ships fom Mumbai, INS Chennai, Kolkata and Trikand have also sailed out from Mumbai for Lakshadweep and Minicoy (LAM) islands with HADR material sufficient for approximately 5000 persons and would last for more than seven days. Androth and Kavaratti are reported to be experiencing strong winds of 40-60 knots coupled high swells of 3-4 metres with a sea state of 5-6.
In addition to the aircraft from Kochi, the P8I aircraft from Arakkonam with greater reach is being used to maintaining a close vigil continuously over the sailing ships and provide inputs if any. The areas close to coast would continuously monitor using DO aircraft from Kochi.
Cyclone Ockhi had uprooted more than 500 trees. Nearly 3000 electric poles were also uprooted which led disruption in electric supply.