Cyclone Ockhi: Death Toll Rises to 30 in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
The unofficial death toll in rain-related incidents in Kerala rose to 30 even as more than 600 fishermen stranded at sea off the state’s coast, were rescued. On Sunday, at least 15 bodies were discovered during search and rescue operation across the state.
In Kerala, so far, 690 fishermen have been rescued from the sea. Close to 1,600 families have taken shelter in 37 relief camps opened in six districts. The financial toll from the cyclone has been pegged at Rs 17.28 crore so far.
In Tamil Nadu, around 70 fishermen are yet to be rescued even as the death toll is still single digits. Cyclone Ockhi has also left the Lakshadweep islands devastated. Fishermen have been asked by the Met Department to not venture into the deep sea region of north Tamil Nadu and South Andhra coast till December 25.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Environment, Cyclone Ockhi has moved away from Lakshadweep islands and is now about 1,000 km southwest of Gujarat’s Surat. It is likely to move in northeasterly direction and gradually weaken.
Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with the families of fishermen affected by the cyclone at Vizhinam in Thiruvananthapuram. She pointed out that the boats that had gone out well before the cyclone warning was issued had been found 15 days after their departure with the fishermen alive. ”If boats which went 15 days ago can come back with fishermen alive, we will make every attempt to get everybody back,” she said.
Previously, Cyclone Ockhi had moved north-northwestwards during the past six hours and lay centered over southeast and east-central Arabian Sea , about 390 km west-northwest of Amini Divi island of Lakshadweep. Lakshadweep islands, which was hit by Cyclone Ochki, has suffered a loss of over Rs 500 crore, Lakshadweep MP Mohammad Faizal said today.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said 28 more boats, carrying 321 fishermen, which were caught in rough seas due to Cyclone Ockhi, have safely reached Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri coast today.
Four men — three from Thiruvananthapuram and one from Tamil Nadu — were rescued by the IAF and admitted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. They were identified as Zacharias (55), Seva Kurishu (35), and Kristudas (48) of Adimalathura, Thiruvananthapuram; and Anthony Adima (30) of Kollencode, Tamil Nadu. Another fisherman was brought dead to the hospital.