Trivandrum / Chennai: The Indian Navy and coast guard ships has saved as many as 59 people stranded at the sea near Trivandrum as an aftermath of the cyclone Ockhi. The depression in Southwest Bay of Bengal had snowballed into the cyclonic storm.
In the mean, the Home Minister Office informed that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were relocated to affected areas, through its official Twitter account. More teams are on reserve to respond to any additional emergency. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is also closely monitoring the situation
HM Shri Rajnath Singh spoke to DG NDRF and reviewed the condition in the areas affected by the cyclone.
Numerous warships were positioned for rescue maneuvers as heavy rain complemented by strong winds tattered the southernmost coast of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Authorities in Tamil Nadu have announced that schools in Chennai, Kanyakumari, Tuticorin, Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Madurai, Theni, Thanjavur and Thiruvarur will remain closed Friday.
Six naval ships and one coast guard ship were positioned from Kochi, and one coast guard ship was deployed from Tuticorn, said Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Two naval ships have been kept on standby in Lakshadweep, as cyclone Ockhi is heading towards the islands. The storm is expected to hit the islands on December 2.
Besides, P8i aircraft, Navy Dornier and Coast Guard Dornier are also being deployed for search and rescue operations. Helicopter with divers is also on reserve.
According to Sitharaman, CGS Samarth sailed from Kochi for rescue operations. She said, “All the units are directed to work for rescue along and off Kerala coast. In addition, the Eastern Naval Command will launch P8i Maritime Patrol aircraft."
She tweeted, “INS Sagardhwani sailed to join for Search & Rescue. Total warships deployed SIX (06). For Search & Rescue (SAR) off Kanyakumari India Coast Guard deploying 2 OPVs in the area, and 1 OPV is being deployed ex Toothukudi. Additional Dornier sorties will be taken up from dawn."
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said heavy-to-very-heavy rainfall at remote places was “very likely” over south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala for the next 24 hours. Rainfall will happen at most places, heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places, and tremendously heavy rainfall at remote places, very likely over Lakshadweep area, during next 48 hours”, the IMD said in its weather bulletin.
Gusty winds, reaching speeds of 55-65 kmph and gusting to 75 kmph, were likely along and around Lakshadweep Islands during the next 12 hours and may increase thereafter with wind speed becoming 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph from Thursday night. For the next 48 hours, the sea conditions would be “very rough to high”, the IMD added.
At least 80 fishermen and 50 boats have gone missing after Cyclone Ockhi lashed the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu and Kerala with torrential rainfall and gusty winds.
