Cyclone Ockhi: Rain hits Lakshadweep islands, damage houses, uproot trees

KAVARATTI/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Several houses suffered damage, coconut trees got uprooted and communication lines were disrupted as rain accompanied by strong winds lashed the Lakshadweep islands under the influence of Cyclone Ockhi.

Five fishing boats were damaged early on Saturday at Kalpeni island as water level rose due to heavy rain, sources said.The 'very severe' cyclonic storm Ockhi - which in Bengali means 'eye' - over Lakshadweep is likely to intensify further in the next 24 hours.

It is likely to continue to move west-northwestwards across Lakshadweep islands during the next 24 hours and then recurve north eastwards during the subsequent 48 hours, according to the latest Met department bulletin.Minicoy island received 14cm of rain in the last 24 hours ending at 0830 this morning, Met department sources said.

Coconut trees have been uprooted in various places and houses damaged in eastern Kalpeni and Minicoy, official sources said, adding the extent of the damage was being assessed.
The breakwater jetty, the embarkation and disembarkation point to Kalpeni island, has suffered severe damage.

Efforts were on to rescue fishermen who had ventured into the sea in 12 fishing boats from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.Gale winds with speed reaching 120-130kmph gusting to 145kmph is very likely over Lakshadweep in the next 24 hours and gradually decrease thereafter, the met bulletin said.

Giant waves were expected along the Kerala coast, official sources said.Yesterday, 218 fishermen, stranded in mid-sea off the coast were brought safely to the shore through active coordination of various agencies including the Navy, the Air Force and the Coast Guard.

The rescued fishermen included 60 who were saved by a Japanese cargo vessel.
PM Modi speaks to TN CM, assures assistance The Tamil Nadu government has said it will soon seek central funds for the damage caused by Cyclone Ockhi in the southern parts of the state, with Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts being the worst hit.

This was conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Chief Minister K Palaniswami during a telephone conversation between the two leaders on Friday night, a state government release said.

"The Prime Minister assured to immediately give the required assistance," the release issued last night said.Modi dialled Palaniswami and enquired about the damage caused by the cyclone, which also battered parts of Kerala, it said.

The chief minister apprised him of the various relief works going on in "full swing" in seven districts of the state and told Modi that Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli were the worst affected.

He listed out various steps being taken, besides deputing senior ministers and IAS officials to oversee the relief work, the release added.

Efforts were being undertaken on a "war footing" while power supply was being restored. The Coast Guard's help was being used to rescue 30 fishermen stranded in the sea even as 76 of them had been already rescued, Palaniswami said.

The state will send a report to the Centre seeking funds after carrying out a detailed assessment of the damage caused by the cyclone, which has crippled life in Kanyakumari district, he told the Prime Minister.
Cyclone Ockhi, which in Bengali means 'eye', had yesterday intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and moved to the Arabian Sea.

The state government yesterday said that over 1,200 people affected by the cyclone in Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli districts have been lodged in relief camps.