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Cyclone Okchi: Over 900 Kerala fishermen reach Maharashtra coast, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis assures every help

“I Have Given Orders To The Maharashtra Maritime Board And Collector, Sindhudurg District To Make All Arrangements For The Stranded Fishermen,' Fadnavis Said.

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Shashikant Sharma | Updated on: 02 Dec 2017, 11:25:26 PM
Families of fishermen wait for them to return home at Vizhinjam harbour in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday (PTI)

New Delhi:

Kerala fishermen who were caught in rough seas due to Cyclone Ockhi have reached Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg coast and are safe, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday evening.

“In all 68 fishing boats, out of which 66 are from Kerala and two from Tamil Nadu, have reached with total 952 fishermen on board. All are safe,” the Maharashtra chief minister said in a tweet.

“Maharashtra will completely look after everyone till weather permits them to go back,” he said.

“I have given orders to the Maharashtra Maritime Board and collector, Sindhudurg district to make all arrangements for the stranded fishermen,” Fadnavis said.

“Local authorities are already with them and taking care of all arrangements to make everyone feel at home,” he said.

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman thanked Fadnavis for the assistance.

“Thanks Hon.CM @Dev_Fadnavis for understanding the sense of urgency in this matter of fishermen reaching Devgad minor port, Maharashtra,” she tweeted.

“These fishermen from near Calicut, Kerala were caught in CycloneOckhi. Grateful to CM who agreed to help immediately,” she said on Twitter.

"Cyclone circulation lies over SW bay of Tamil Nadu, also well-marked low-pressure area over south Andaman Sea and neighbourhood is persisting. Low pressure expected to intensify over next 36 hrs and expected to move in 3-4 days in NW direction, situation monitored," said Director, Chennai Met Department.

Heavy rains unleashed by Cyclone Ockhi continue to wreak havoc in the coastal area of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Normal life was crippled in the coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala due to torrential rains triggered by Cyclone Ockhi. Schools in Chennai have been shut down and power has been cut for thousands of families in both states.

So far, Cyclone Ockhi has claimed at least 16 lives and there were no official figures available on those still missing. Over 200 Kerala fishermen were rescued on Friday in a joint operation by the Navy, Indian Air Force, Coast Guard and merchant vessels.

The IMD and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) on Friday issued a joint statement and warned that Cyclone Ockhi, centred over Lakshadweep, is likely to intensify on Saturday.

Here are the live updates of Cyclone Ockhi:

# Locals have blocked National Highway for last five hours in Trivandrum's Thumba, demand better relief measures & rescue of 6 fishermen missing from the area

# 3 rescued fishermen brought to Trivandrum Air Force Station, admitted to hospital for treatment

# After concentrated efforts taken with the help of Union Govt & massive search ops carried out by INS ships we have brought back 6 boats & 73 fishermen. Search ops are underway as 33 boats & 95 fishermen are still missing: Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar

# Kerala: Locals evacuated to rehabilitation centre in Kochi's Chellanam.

# Fresh visuals of water logging from Kochi.

# The Indian Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard have resumed their operation to search for mising 102 fishermen. 

# Rains hit Lakshadweep islands: Several houses suffered damage, coconut trees got uprooted and communication lines were disrupted as rains accompanied by strong winds lashed the Lakshadweep islands under the influence of Cyclone Ockhi.

The ‘very severe’ cyclonic storm Ockhi - which in Bengali means ‘eye’ - over Lakshadweep is likely to intensify further in the next 24 hours.

# Watch: Indian Navy, Coast Guard rescue Kerala fishermen stranded at sea

# Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spkoen to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami over phone to enquire about the damage caused by Cyclone Ockhi. The CM has also asked Modi to soon release central funds. PM Modi assured to immediately give the required assistance.

# India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted a heavy rainfall at isolated places of Tamil Nadu and Kerala over the next 24 hours in view of Cyclone Ockhi. The Central Water Commission (CWC) has said the pouring might trigger a rapid rise in the water level of the rivers in the two southern states. (PTI Inputs)

# Very severe Cyclone Ockhi to intensify, Lakshadweep to get very heavy rains: Skymet Weather

# Indian Navy conducted search and rescue operation of missing fishermen off the Kerala Coast

# Tamil Nadu: Heavy rain lashed Tirunelveli. Traffic halted on the Karupanthurai - Melapalyam link road as the low-lying bridge was submerged in Thamirabarani river

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First Published : 02 Dec 2017, 10:23:57 AM

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