Cyclone Ockhi: Indian Navy, Coast Guard continue rescue and relief efforts; death toll rises to 13
Cyclone Ockhi 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
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The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard on Saturday continued to search for missing fishermen using ships, dornier aircraft and helicopters in the choppy seas off Kerala and Lakshadweep in the wake of Cyclone Ockhi. PTI
Meanwhile, kin of missing fishermen and residents of some Cyclone Ockhi-hit localities took to the streets to draw the attention of the authorities to their plight. Relatives protested and demanded that rescue operations for fishermen, who went missing in the rough sea, are intensified. PTI
The death toll due to the cyclone has now risen to 13. The Kerala government decided to urge the Centre to declare Cyclone Ockhi, which left a trail of destruction in the state, as a national calamity. Police vigil in the beach during Ockhi cyclone alert in Kozhikode. PTI
Though many fishermen were brought ashore safely and admitted to hospitals after facing the cyclone, many are yet to recover from the shock of wrestling the lashing waves. Titus, a fisherman hailing from Kollam, said he had never seen such a violent sea even in movies. PTI
Fishermen, tourists and coastal population have been advised not to venture into the sea for the next 48 hours as the sea conditions are likely to be non-conducive due to the effect of cyclone Ockhi. A fisherman being taken to a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. PTI
The 'very severe' cyclonic storm Ockhi - which in Bengali means 'eye' - is now over Lakshadweep, and is likely to intensify further in the next 24 hours. A washed-away road in Suchindram at flood-hit Kanyakumari district. PTI
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. AP