Four people were killed on Thursday as heavy rains and strong winds lashed southern part of the state after cyclonic storm Ockhi hit the Kerala coast

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As Cyclone Ockhi intensifies in the Bay of Bengal, eight people were killed — four each — in Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Thursday, reported PTI. Ninety fishermen are also missing, according to NDTV .

Schools in Chennai, Kanchipuram, Villupuram, Kanyakumari, Nellai, Theni, Dindigul, Madurai and Thoothukudi will remain closed on Friday due to the cyclonic storm Ockhi, according to Skymet Weather.

Due to heavy rains, train services along the Nagercoil-Trivandrum section have been affected on the route. Eight trains (numbers 56313, 56310, 56386, 56362, 56363, 56389, 16791 and 16792) have been cancelled, reported The Indian Express . On Friday, six trains (numbers 56305, 56334, 56333, 56309, 56313, 56715) will remain cancelled.

Heavy showers will continue for next 12 hours as it moves towards Lakshadweep over the next 48 hours, the Skymet chief Mahesh Palawat told CNN-News18.

Due to the heavy rains as a result of Cyclone Ockhi, water storage levels in the Periyar dam has increased by six feet and by one foot in the Vaigai dam, reported The Hindu . Periyar dam records 16,022 cusecs and the Vaigai dam at 2,507 cusecs.

The National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) said it has dispatched two teams to Kanyakumari and Nagercoil. "As per the state government's request, we will carry rescue operations. We will be involved in rescuing fisherman, inland area flooding, checking on building collapse and uprooted trees, and clearing the roads," the NDRF told CNN-News18.

CNN-News18 reported that five people died in Kanyakumari district alone due to the heavy rains. The NDRF said it has one team already positioned in Trichur or regional district in Kerala. "As soon as we get a call from the state government they will be dispatched for work," said a NDRF official.

On Thursday, Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted that a total of six warships, and two coast guard vessels from the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard have been deployed along with additional air effort on Friday.

Death toll rises to nine in Tamil Nadu and Kerala

According to the Indian Coast Guard, three fishermen were rescued off Vizhinjam coast in Kerala on Friday morning. Rescue operations are going on to save five more fishermen sighted near Quilon coast in the state.

Three fishermen rescued off Kerala coast, efforts on to rescue five more off Quilon coast

On Friday, relatives of the missing fishermen in Thiruvananthapuram lamented that they did not receive any cyclonic warnings from the administration.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh spoke to DG NDRF and reviewed the areas affected by Cyclone Ockhi. According to ANI, NDRF teams have been moved to the affected areas with several more on standby in case of further emergencies.

Eight fishermen floating at sea rescued by Indian Navy off Thiruvananthapuram coast

Cyclone Ockhi can lead to cloudy weather coupled with light rain for some parts along Maharashtra coast and Mumbai next week, reports have said. Indian Met Department issued warning to all ports.

Ockhi may lead to cloudy weather with light rain along Maharashtra coast, Mumbai

Rainfall will be intermittent in Tamil Nadu but heavy to very heavy showers is expected in Lakshadweep. Skymet predicted that there will be light rains in Saurashtra and Kutch region of Gujarat as well.

This seems to be going to Gujarat, says Twitterati

According to The New Indian Express , Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswamy announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation for the families of those deceased in Kanyakumari district due to heavy rains caused by cyclone Ockhi.

"Since most of the boats are co-owned by people belonging to Tamil Nadu and most of the workers are also from that state, it is also possible that the fishermen might have taken the boats to Colachel, Muttom and Thengapattanam," added Xavier.

“Usually, we used to receive advance warnings on the weather. But this time, there was no such notification. This is a matter of concern, given there were reports about the arrival of the cyclone at least two days ago,” Xavier said.

Joseph Xavier, general secretary of All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators Association said that nearly 200 fishing boats which left Kochi coast in the last few days are yet to return to safety, reported The New Indian Express .

200 fishing boats yet to return to Kochi coast: All Kerala Fishing Boat Operators Association

Nine persons have died in Tamil Nadu due to rains following the Ockhi cyclone in the last couple of days. Chief Minister E Palaniswami has declared ex-gratia to the bereaved families.

Life in Kanyakumari was thrown out of gear due to heavy rain and strong winds. Over 1,000 affected people have been put up in camps, as per reports.

Heavy rains battered southern districts of Tamil Nadu and state capital Chennai on Thursday night and early Friday morning, forcing the authorities to order the closure of schools and colleges.

Navy saves 16 people in rescue operation, 40 expected to be stranded at sea

"We have responded immediately. We will continue to meet the requirement of safety and security of our fishermen. As soon as we got the request from the government of Kerala for search operations, we have started that," Karve said.

"Maximum efforts have been put in," he said at a press meet held on board the INS Tir on the occasion of Navy Day at the naval base in Kochi.

Rescue operations are on. Some fishermen have already been rescued by the Navy which immediately dispatched aircraft and ships besides helicopters to carry out rescue operations in the sea which is very rough, said Vice Admiral AR Karve, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command.

The Indian Navy is putting in "maximum effort" to rescue fishermen from the sea which is very rough under the influence of Cyclone Ockhi, a top Navy official said on Friday.

Top Navy officials said they have deployed two ships to the Lakshadweep Islands for carrying out rescue and rehabilitation operations in the island which is under threat of the cyclone.

Twenty people have been rescued and efforts are on to bring others to safety. Continuous sorties of aircraft and helicopters are being undertaken in coordination with the units at sea, the spokesperson said.

According to a defence spokesperson, the Navy is continuing search and rescue operations in coordination with the Indian Coast Guard and the state administration in the coastal areas of Kerala. At present, 69 people stranded in the sea have been located and the exact numbers are being corroborated, he said.

Many rescued fishermen have been admitted to the medical college in Thiruvananthapuram and general hospitals since they were weak after being in the sea for the last 48 hours, the official said.

The rescued fishermen included those who were saved by a Japanese cargo vessel. The vessel has rescued 60 fishermen from mid-sea. They are being brought to the Vizhinjam coast, she said.

About 150 fishermen, who put out to sea from various southern districts, were rescued, Thiruvananthapuram district commissioner K Vasuki said, adding that efforts were on to bring the rest of the stranded fishermen to the shore. "There is no need to panic," she said.

Heavy rains continued to lash coastal areas of Kerala on Friday, crippling normal life, even as Cyclone Ockhi lay centered about 80km north-northeast of Minicoy in Lakshadweep.

Top Navy officials said they deployed two ships to the Lakshadweep Islands for carrying out rescue and rehabilitation operations in the island. In Lakshadweep, orders have been issued to evacuate people from low-lying areas in Kalpeni, Minicoy, Kavratti, Agatti, Androth, Kadamath and Amini islands, official sources said. "People are being shifted to schools," they said.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the Kerala government has asked the defence ministry to deploy more aircraft for rescue operations as the cyclonic storm moving towards Lakshadweep.

The Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force are engaged in rescue operations with their ships, aircraft and helicopters. Besides engaging divers, the Indian Navy has deployed two aircraft and an advanced light helicopter (ALH).

Even though the sea continued to be rough, rescue operations are going on in full swing.

"It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards across Lakshadweep islands during the next 24 hours and then move north-northeastwards during the subsequent 48 hours," it added.

As per the latest Met department bulletin, the system is very likely to intensify further during the next 24 hours.

Former chief minister Oommen Chandy, BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan visited a fishing hamlet in Poonthura, from where a large number of fishermen, who put out to sea, were yet to return.

Anxious relatives of the missing fishermen, including women, on Friday blocked traffic and raised slogans in Kollam and Thiruvanathapuram, protesting the delay in their rescue.

They said various agencies including the Union home department, National Institute of Oceanography and Indian Meteorological Department had informed the state about the possible landing of the cyclone on Kerala shores days before.

The Opposition alleged that the CPM-led government failed completely in tackling the emergency situation though it had received a prior warning about the cyclone.

The Opposition Congress and BJP in Kerala on Friday slammed the LDF government over the alleged delay in initiating precautionary measures and launching rescue operations for fishermen, who got stranded in the rough sea off the coast due to Cyclone Ockhi.

"A well marked low pressure is lying over South Andaman Sea and its neighbourhood. It is expected to concentrate into a depression in the next 48 hours," Regional Meteorological Centre director S Balachandran said.

A low pressure system over the South Andaman Sea is expected to turn into a depression in the next 48 hours, which may bring more rainfall to Tamil Nadu, as the death toll due to Cyclone Ockhi in Kanyakumari district rose to five on Friday.

To expedite relief works in worst affected Kanniyakumari district, two NDRF teams and seven of the state disaster response agency have been deputed. "They, along with local officials, were rescuing people on a 'war-footing' from inundated areas," it said.

As per the orders of the chief minister, 1,044 persons in Kanniyakumari have been lodged in 16 relief camps while the number was 205 in two camps in Tirunelveli, an official release said.

At a review meeting inChennai, the chief minister asked officials to expedite all works undertaken in the affected areas, even as scores of personnel have been deployed to address various issues, including restoring the power network.

The Tamil Nadu government on Friday said over 1,200 persons affected by Ockhi cyclone in Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli districts have been lodged in relief camps, as Chief Minister K Palaniswami took stock of the situation.

Over 1,200 hit by cyclone in 2 districts lodged in relief camps

As the toll due to Cyclone Ockhi in Kanyakumari district mounted to five on Friday, a low pressure system over the south Andaman Sea is expected to turn into a depression in the next 48 hours, which may bring more rain to Tamil Nadu.

The death toll in the two states in rain-related incidents rose to 12 on Friday.

Heavy rains continued to batter coastal areas of Kerala and south Tamil Nadu today, crippling normal life, even as Cyclone Ockhi lay centered about 80km north-northeast of Minicoy in Lakshadweep.

105 fishermen drifting in eight boats rescued; eye of the storm close to Kavaratti

The Sri Lankan Red Cross on Saturday said that showers or thundershowers are expected in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central provinces and in Galle, Puttalam and Matara districts.

Faizal said seven persons were rescued from a sinking Uru, a large Dhow-type wooden ship, in the sea off Kavaratti.

Lakshadweep MP PP Mohammed Faizal said Kalpeni and Minicoy islands were badly hit by the cyclone but no casualties have been reported.

Five boats anchored at a jetty in Kalpeni were damaged in heavy rains, coupled with strong winds.

In Lakshadweep, orders have been issued to evacuate people from low-lying areas in Kalpeni, Minicoy, Kavratti, Agatti, Androth, Kadamath and Amini islands, officials said.

Vice Admiral AR Karve, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, said the Indian Navy is putting in "maximum effort" to rescue fishermen from the sea which is very rough under the influence of Ockhi.

Top Navy officials said they deployed two ships to the Lakshadweep Islands for carrying out rescue and rehabilitation operations in the island.

The report states that 4,000 power lines in the Kanyakumari district have been damaged by the cyclonic storm. It may a week or more for the entire grid to be restored. Meanwhile, NDRF and state forces have been deployed for rescue operations.

As Cyclone Ockhi moves towards Lakshadweep, rain ravaged states are likely to experience relief today. However, as this NDTV report, Kanyakumari in submerged in knee-deep water with no powerless as thousands remain strand across relief centres in the district.

Heavy (7-11cm in 24 hrs) to very heavy rainfall (12-20cm in 24 hrs) is most likely to occur at a few places till the morning on 2 December & heavy rainfall (7-11cm in 24 hrs) at one or two places from morning of Saturday till the morning of 3 December in Kerala. Heavy (7-11cm in 24 hrs) to very heavy rainfall (12-20cm in 24 hrs) is most likely to occur at a few places, and extremely heavy rainfall (21 cm or more in 24 hrs) at one or two places till morning of 2 December and heavy rainfall (7-11cm in 24 hrs) at a few places from morning of Saturday till the morning of 3 December in Lakshadweep.

Following is the official forecast statement from IMD Thiruvananthapuram:

Squally weather with wind-speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is very likely along and off Kerala coasts, gale wind-speed reaching 110-120 kmph gusting to 130 kmph is likely over Lakshadweep area till 2 pm 2 December. Fishermen are advised not to venture in to the sea.

Following is the official warning statement for fishermen near Kerala and Lakshadweep:

Lakshadweep to witness incessant rains, gusty winds at speed of 120-145 kmph to lash islands

On Friday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswamy, assuring him of full assistance in the wake of destruction by cyclone Ockhi, reported The Indian Express . Palaniswamy reportedly said the state government would soon seek Central funds to mitigate the damage caused by the cyclone.

She also added that strict instructions have been given that "none should venture into the sea for fishing".

"The search operations now are aimed towards the Alappuzha area, as the boats would have run out of fuel. They would be drifting according to the wind direction. Hence the search operations are focusing towards Alappuzha," said Vasuki.

Thiruvananthapuram district Collector S Vasuki told the media that the 102 fishermen from Thiruvananthapuram cannot be termed as "missing". "These fishermen had gone into the sea. They are yet to reach home or they have not been able to contact their relatives here."

The rescue operations jointly launched by the Indian Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard after Cyclone Ockhi hit the southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, resumed on Saturday with 102 Kerala fishermen yet to return home, a top state official said.

According to News18, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said family of those who dies in rain-related incidents will be given Rs 10 lakh as compensation. He also said that so far 393 people have been rescued across Kerala. 550 families have been evacuated to 30 relief camps in the state.

The families of the missing have now started to exhibit pictures of their loved ones to the media so as to send message to other parts of the state in case they were sighted.

A special Mass was held at the Poonthura St Thomas Church for the suffering. "There has been no word from my husband Gerald for the past three days. We have got no information from any one at all," said his grieving wife.

Angry fishermen at Poonthura, a coastal hamlet near Thiruvananthapuram, blocked traffic as about a dozen fishermen from their village were yet to be traced.

The Kerala government has already announced free ration to be supplied to the affected fishing villages.

Among those rescued on Friday night, 40 are under medical observation at the Medical College hospital and another 28 at the General Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.

On Saturday morning, the intensity of the rains and winds in the deep sea was reported to have come down. However, the meteorological office predicts rains are in the offing.

More fishermen rescued on Saturday morning, some stuck in Lakshadweep waiting to get back: Nirmala Sitharaman

Here, relatives cry for a fisherman, who went missing in the rough sea due to a cyclone, in the coastal hamlets of Poonthura in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. Locals in Poonthura came out in protest alleging rescue operations for the missing fishermen have been inadequate.

Later fresh news came that the Japanese ship since it was on its way to Kochi, it would drop the fishermen there. It was only late in the night that truth surfaced: "It was a fake news".

Following which, a huge crowd of anxious fishermen waited in Vizhinjam expecting to welcome their missing relatives. Many ambulances were also asked to be stationed at the port.

It was Thiruvananthapuram district Collector S Vasuki who told the media, on Friday evening, that she wished to thank the Japanese government as one of their ships had rescued 60 fishermen after Cyclone Ockhi struck the Kerala coasts. She said they would arrive at the Vizhinjam coast.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan slammed rumours on Saturday after it came to light that Friday's reports of a Japanese merchant ship rescuing 60 Kerala fishermen caught in the deep seas, was "fake". Vijayan called those spreading the rumours "mad".

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued an "extremely heavy rainfalls" (>20 cm) warning for isolated areas in north Lakshadweep Islands during the next 24 hours. It also said heavy to very heavy rainfalls were likely in isolated areas of Kerala and south Lakshadweep islands.

Extremely heavy rainfall likely over north Lakshadweep islands in next 24 hours, says NDMA

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswamy to grant Rs 25 crore for relief and restoration efforts in cyclone-hit Kanyakumari district, reports the New Indian Express

Besides, 138 fishermen have been rescued from the Lakshadweep islands, he said.

So far, 393 people from Kerala have been rescued, Vijayan said, as the state government announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of those who died in the storm.

As many as 531 fishermen, stranded in the choppy waters off the Kerala and the Lakshadweep coasts due to Cyclone Ockhi, have been rescued, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday.

Palaniswamy had requested deployment of helicopters in the search and rescue operations of fishermen who have not returned after they ventured into the sea a couple of days back.

Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswamy on Saturday requested Union home minister Rajnath Singh to involve the Indian Navy and Coast Guard helicopters for search and rescue of fishermen caught in mid sea in the wake of Cyclone Ockhi.

The death toll in rain-related incidents in Kerala rose to nine with the recovery of two more bodies, officials said.

More than 500 fishermen stranded in the rough sea off Kerala and Lakshadweep coasts have been rescued even as cyclone 'Ockhi' on Saturday lay centered over the South East Arabian Sea and about 250 kilometres near Amini Divi in the Lakshadweep Islands.

Eleven people, mostly fishermen, remained missing in the two countries as nearly 9,000 people sought shelter in relief camps.

Cyclone Ockhi has left 13 people dead in Sri Lanka and killed an equal number in India's Kerala and Tamil Nadu states since Friday as it churns in the Arabian Sea.

Thousands took to relief camps in Sri Lanka and southern India on Saturday to escape rising floodwaters after a cyclone killed at least 26 people.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan entrusted chief secretary KM Abraham with the task of preparing a memorandum in this regard, chief minister office (CMO) sources said.

Trivandrum IMD Director S Sudevan said that his department had passed on three alerts about the deep depression in the sea near the state since 29 November morning. But the authorities started acting only after receiving the third alert at 12 noon on 30 November. But by the time, the depression had developed into a cyclone and started wreaking havoc.

The biggest lapse on the part of the SDMA was its failure to disseminate the repeated warnings they received from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and other agencies about the deep depression in the Arabian Sea to the people.

Experts firmly believe that the intensity of the devastation could have been reduced to a great extent, if not totally averted, had the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) risen to the occasion. Information available from different sources shows that the agency failed utterly on all fronts.

Cyclone Ockhi's devastating effect could have been reduced if state disaster officials acted promptly

An Indian Coast Guard aircraft spotted 15 fishermen on two vessels six nautical miles off Colachel, Kanyakumari and rescued them by vectoring a vessel in vicinity on Sunday. The fishermen are safe, tweeted the Coast Guard.

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

"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.

Fishermen from near Kerala, who were caught in rough seas due to Cyclone Ockhi, have reached Maharashtra's Sindhudurg coast and are safe, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in Mumbai on Saturday evening.

A defence spokesman, however, refused to comment on the allegations.

The Lakshadweep MP said he would write to defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman in this regard. "We have not got adequate help from the Navy and the Coast Guard. They failed to respond promptly in the adverse situation," Faizal told PTI. He also said that he had spoken to home minister Rajnath Singh, who assured him that a team of officials would be sent to the island.

Lok Sabha MP PP Mohammed Faizal on Saturday alleged that the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard failed to respond promptly in tackling the crisis due to cyclone Ockhi, which left a trail of destruction in the Lakshadweep islands.

Skymet Weather said that Mumbai can brace for some light showers by the evening of 4 December. It also added that the intensity of these rains will be light with moderate showers in some isolated pockets.

Fishermen in Gujarat, north Maharashtra advised not to venture into sea on 4 December

Cyclone Ockhi currently positioned at Latitude 11.7º N and Longitude 69.2º E, says NDMA

As Cyclone Ockhi slowly recedes from Kerala, cancellations and worried queries from tourists marked the start of the tourist season in the state. According to The Times of India , hoteliers and tour operators observed a drop in inquiries from people planning visits this week. "There have been many cancellations, especially from those who booked online. I received a few calls as well inquiring whether they could still enjoy the stay here in the wake of cyclone Ockhi," Sisupalan, the managing director of Sagara Beach Resort, Kovalam told TOI.

"Heavy (7-11cm in 24 hrs) is most likely to occur at one or two places in Kerala and heavy (7-11cm in 24 hrs) to very heavy rainfall (12-20cm in 24 hrs) is most likely to occur at one or two places in Lakshadweep till morning of 3rd December 2017," read the IMD release.

Titus, a fisherman from Kollam district, told TNIE he had never seen “such a violent sea even in movies”.

As the navy, air force and coast guard continue conducting search and rescue operations, fishermen who returned to the shore safely had just one thing to say: They had never weathered such a violent storm in their experience. According to The New Indian Express , the rescued fishermen were seen shivering and asking for food. Most of them had bruises all over their bodies from trying to stay onboard their boats for two nights.

Gale winds speed reaching 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph, very likely over and around north Lakshadweep Islands during the next 24 hours and gradual decrease thereafter. Gale winds speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph very likely south Lakshadweep Islands during next 12 hours and gradual decrease thereafter.

The IMD, in its official statement , said the following:

Strong winds reaching speeds up to 120 km per hour likely in the next 24 hours

Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph very likely along and off Kerala coast during next 24 hours and along & off Karnataka coast during next 48 hours.

In Kerala, squally wind speeds of up to 65 km per hour expected

The boats, 40 from Poonthura and 15 from Vizhinjam, left the shores with food and water.

Rescue teams decided to step up their operations after a body in a highly decomposed state was recovered near the Vizhinjam coast.

The fishermen community on Sunday decided to launch their own rescue operations as 55 boats ventured into the sea to search for the 115 missing fishermen.

The fishermen have blocked traffic on Sunday in agitation.

"The authorities have failed miserably and the relief camps are also poorly managed with even the basic facilities not available. We have been demanding opening of a control room in our area but nothing has happened," said a Poonthura resident.

However, anger was mounting in coastal villages as they were unhappy with the authorities failing to take precautions before the cyclone hit the state.

State tourism minister K Surendran and fisheries minister J Mercykutty Amma have been engaged in rescue and rehabilitation operations since 30 November and coordinating with the navy, air force and coast guard officials.

TTV Dhinakaran announces he will go to Kanyakumari to meet people affected by storm

Chennai, Puducherry likely to receive heavy rainfall in next 24 hours, according to Chennai Meteorological Center

As of Sunday morning, 89 boats with 1,154 fishermen taken shelter in various ports: Nirmala Sitharaman

According to the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority, 23 boats from the state with 260 crew members are safe at Myria Bandar, Ratnagiri in Maharashtra.

Kerala to not receive heavy rains as Cyclone Ockhi has moved away: Skymet meteorologist Mahesh Palawat

The compound wall of a private resort was washed away by the waves and a party arranged at the resort had to be cancelled.

The houses belonging to Philomena Fernandes and Everest Alphonse were consumed by the waves which advanced into the shore.

Seen as an after-effect of cyclone Ockhi, damage to the property by huge waves has occurred in most of the coastal areas, official sources said. Two houses near the seashore at Ullal were completely destroyed by the waves while another one was partially damaged.

Three houses were damaged while the compound wall of a private resort collapsed as surging waves lashed the coast of Ullal near Mangaluru in the last two days.

Alphons held a meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other cabinet colleagues earlier in the day to discuss the rescue and rehabilitation operations.

"There is no provision to declare this as a national calamity. The Centre will provide funds. If needed, more funds will be allocated," Alphons said in Thiruvananthapuram.

On Saturday, the Kerala government decided to approach the Centre for declaring Ockhi a national disaster.

Cyclone Ockhi, which has caused widespread damage in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts, will not be termed a national disaster, Minister of State for Tourism KJ Alphons said on Sunday.

Cyclone Ockhi will not be termed as a national disaster: KJ Alphons

Tamil Nadu BJP leader asks state government to take account of missing fishermen in Kanyakumari

71 Tamil Nadu fishermen, 248 Kerala fishermen and 38 fishermen from Lakshadweep have been rescued, defence ministry said

DMDK leader Vijaykanth slams the Tamil Nadu government, calls for action on the wars to fix the storm impacts

Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam says relief will be given after seeing the Collector's report

5,759 boats are safe, 205 boats are in other states and 97 fishermen we are searching for, says O Panneerselvam

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman on her way to visit cyclone-hit Kanyakumari

Minister Thoomeani says 100% electricity will be provided in Kanyakumari district within a day or two

Meanwhile, 23 vessels registered at Tamil Nadu took shelter at Miryabandar in Maharashtra to avoid the cyclone

Cyclone Ockhi likely to lash Saurashtra coast in the next 48 hours and subsequently weaken. All fishermen are warned to not venture out and those already out to be contacted immediately to return, says Collector of Gir Somnath district.

Cyclone Ockhi likely to lash Saurashtra coast in the next 48 hours​

With the help of the Centre, flights and ships are now being used in the rescue operations, says CM E Palaniswamy

Around 500 houses suffered damage, several coconut trees got uprooted and electric and communication lines were disrupted due to the calamity in Minicoy island alone, he told PTI. Read more here .

Lakshadweep Island, which was hit by Cyclone Ochki, has suffered a loss of over Rs 500 crore, Lakshadweep MP Mohammad Faizal said on Sunday.Faizal sought the Centre's assistance to restore normal life in the islands isolated by the storm. He said normal life in three islands – Minicoy, Kalpeni and Kavaratti – was badly hit by the cyclone.

A total of 243 fishermen in Tamil Nadu, 250 fishermen in Kerala and 1,047 people in Lakshadweep have been rescued so far, an official statement said after a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee, headed by Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha.

As many as 1,540 people, including fishermen, affected by Cyclone Ockhi in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep were rescued by various agencies, the government said on Monday, according to PTI.

1,540 people hit by cyclone Ockhi rescued so far, says government

Patrolling of the tracks has been intensified over various rail sections. The Disaster Management Cell of WR is geared up to deal with any emergency, it added. According to the release, all emergency numbers have been updated.

Similarly, RPF and commercial control staff has been asked to monitor crowd movements and undertake necessary evacuation at stations in case of a disaster-like situation, the release said.

The Western Railway (WR) said it has taken necessary precautions and made suitable arrangements in view of the warning about cyclone Ockhi in coastal areas of Maharashtra, according to PTI. The WR's engineering control has been kept on alert to keep a watch on water level over railway tracks, it said in a release.

The Navy said the whole of Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands are under the cover of its ships and aircraft with rescue and relief operations on in full swing. The lndian Navy is determined to bring back normalcy to Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands most expeditiously, a Defence release said. All other ships at the disposal of Indian Navy would continue the search and rescue operations and provide relief till normalcy is restored.

Indian Navy on Monday continued search and rescue (SAR) operations in full swing for the fifth day over Southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands in the aftermath of very severe cyclonic storm Ockhi.

According to the IMD forecast, wind velocity would remain between 50 kmph to 70 kmph when the cyclone would make landfall.

Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams each have been deployed at Surat, Navsari, and Rajkot, reported News18 . The Army, Navy, and the Border Security Force (BSF) have been alerted in the view of the cyclone's landfall.

NASA's Terra satellite passed over the Arabian Sea on 4 December and found Cyclone Ockhi moving north as desert dust pushed into the region north of the storm

BJP president Amit Shah's public rallies in Rajula, Mahuva and Shihor in Gujarat cancelled due to Cyclone Ockhi

Trains on the central line are running 10 minutes late, but the frequency of local trains in Mumbai has not been affected, a Railway official told CNN-News18 . Public Relations Officer for the Mumbai Airport says flight operations haven’t been affected.

The traffic on Eastern and Western Express Highways in Mumbai has slowed down. There are traffic curbs in some places in view of the rush of followers of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his death anniversary on Wednesday.

As Mumbai braces for Cyclone Ockhi, areas near the metropolis witnessed a spell of hailstorm early on Tuesday. The weather department has forecast intermittent rains in Mumbai and suburbs in the next 24 hours.

Some parts of the Munbai-Pune Expressway experienced a hailstorm early today, police said. The weather department has forecast intermittent rains in Mumbai and suburbs in the next 24 hours.

Mumbaikars woke up to an overcast sky on Tuesday as Cyclone Ockhi passed by Maharashtra. Areas near the metropolis witnessed a spell of hailstorm, while schools and colleges in the city and adjoining districts have been closed today as a precautionary measure.

The traffic on Eastern and Western Express Highways in Mumbai has slowed down after rain in some parts of Mumbai since Monday night. There are traffic curbs in some places in view of the rush of followers of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his death anniversary on Wednesday.

Weather forecasting bureau Skymet on Tuesday predicts moderate rain and thundershower with strong winds in Maharashtra. Rough sea over Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman, Ahmednagar, Dhule, Jalgaon, Mumbai, Nandurbar, Nashik, Pune, Raigarh, Ratnagiri, Satara, Thane, Harnai and Kolhapur in the next 36- 48 hours.

Take a look at the updated track of Cyclone Ockhi in seconds

Skymet predicts rain, thundershower, squally winds and rough sea conditions over Ahmedabad, Amreli, Aravali, Bhavnagar, Devbhumi, Dwarka, Gandhinagar Jamnagar, Kheda, Mahesana, Narmada, Navsari, Porbandar, Rajkot, Sabar, Kantha, Surat, Surendranagar, Tapi, Vadodara and Valsad in the next 48 hours.

Day's first high tide happened at 12:49 am (Monday-Tuesday intervening night), the next one will happen at 12:39 pm on Tuesday. The low tide will be around 6:49 pm, according to Tide Forecast . Day's first low tide happened at 6:52 am.

The cyclone is currently less than 420-km southwest of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea and moving northwards.

Suburban train services running as normal. Water logging at some parts on WE highway near Goregaon, jogeshwari. The Central Railway has also said that it has geared up to the cyclone, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and MSSF arrangements for crowd control at all stations.

Cyclone Ockhi currently less than 420-km southwest of Mumbai

"Intermittent rain/thundershowers very likely to occur in Mumbai and suburbs in next 24 hours," said a report of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Mumbai at 8 am. "Heavy rainfall is likely at a few places with squally wind speed reaching 50 to 60-kms per hour gusting to 70-kms per hour very likely along coastal area in next 24 hours," it further said.

The BMC has made arrangements for accommodation in some civic schools for people coming from outside Mumbai to pay tributes to Ambedkar at Chaityabhumi in Dadar area.

BMC has made arrangements for accommodation in some civic schools for people coming from outside Mumbai to pay tributes to Ambedkar

Take a look at the Mumbai rain figures for the last 10 years in the month of December

Urging people not to trust unverified news, Mumbai Police on Tuesday said the "news" that Bandra-Worli Sea Link has "collapsed" is untrue. (The video attached here is by Twitter user @radhika1705). Similarly, videos of hailstorm near Mumbai circulating on Whatsapp groups and social media are unverified and it's wise not to trust every video or "news" that comes your way.

Several rumours are going "viral" on social media regarding Cyclone Ockhi and Mumbai Rains. #MumbaiRains started trending on Twitter on Monday and videos and GIFs have been circulating on social media and several Whatsapp groups which are more alarming in nature than true.

Severe Cyclone Ockhi has now weakened into a Cyclone, is 230 km WSW of Mumbai

Mumbai police putting up barricades near Dadar chowpatty and Juhu chowpatty to prevent people from going near the beaches.

In view of Mumbai rains, all roads leading up to Dadar Chowpatty have been closed to avoid traffic snafu, reports said

In the last 24 hours, from 08:30 am as on Monday, Mahuva recorded 13 mm of rains, Diu 8 mm, Valsad 7 mm, Surat and Ahmedabad 1 mm, Veraval 0.6 mm while the stations such as Surendranagar, Gandhinagar, Idar, and Kandla witnessed some light traces of rains.

The weather models were already predicting some rains for Gujarat which were a result of cyclone Ockhi that started travelling towards northwest India. As of now, more rains are expected to continue over Gujarat.

According to Skymet, the severe Cyclone Ockhi has weakened to a cyclone and is inching towards Gujarat. Though the intensity of these showers was light to moderate, these rains helped in plummeting the daytime high by a few notches. However, these rains were mainly confined to the southern and central parts of the state.

This system is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards and weaken further. This will cross South Gujarat and adjoining North Maharashtra coast near Surat as a Deep Depression by midnight of 5 December.

The intensity of this weather system has now reduced and at present, it lies over east central Arabian Sea, approximately 480 km south-southwest of Surat and 300 km west-southwest of Mumbai as a severe cyclone, reports said.

As per weathermen, intensity of rains in Mumbai will be more with moderate spells lashing the region and one or two heavy spells of rains could also be witnessed. Weather predictions did not rule out the possibility of some rain on 6 December.

In the last 24 hours, Santa Cruz has recorded 22 mm of rains and Colaba saw 23 mm of rainfall.

Fishermen have been advised to not venture out in the sea as the conditions will remain rough. Fishing activities should remain suspended for another two days at least.

Strong surface winds will continue to blow over Mumbai in view of Cyclone Ockhi. The winds may gust up to 60 kmph in some area.

With 22mm of rain in the past 24 hours, Mumbai broke the decade-old December rain record. According to Skymet, last time Mumbai witnessed the highest rains was in the year 2014 which was a mere 1.5 mm.

Fishing activities suspended for 2 days: Fishermen advised not to venture out in sea

The weather is expected to start improving by 7 December but until then, it is advised for the locals to stay cautious.

Moreover, the sea conditions are also expected to remain rough to very rough. As the storm surge will be high, this may even lead to local flooding in the low-lying areas.

Squally winds in order of 60-70 kmph, reaching up to 80 kmph are likely in Mumbai for next 36-48 hours, weather reports have said.

Take a look at how Cyclone Ockhi progressed on 5 December

Also, the shack owners, whose establishments suffered damages following high tide during to the cyclone, have decided to approach the state tourism department to seek compensation for their losses.

The North Goa district has done a preliminary assessment of the damage caused due to Cyclone Ockhi in the coastal state.

'Operation Synergy,' a joint rescue mission by the Indian Navy, the Air Force, Coast Guard and state fisheries department had so far rescued 252 fishermen stranded in the seas in the aftermath of the cyclone.

The Kerala government said intensified search and rescue operations are on to trace the 92 fishermen missing in high seas after Cyclone Ockhi hit the state's coast.

According to latest forecast released by the Meteorological Centre, the cyclone is now just 390 kilometres away from Surat. It is approaching Gujarat steadily and now lies centred in the Arabian Sea.

The Met centre has warned that when the cyclone hits the Gujarat coast, "wind speed would remain between 50 and 60 kmph and may reach up to 70 kmph in south Gujarat".

Gujarat's chief secretary JN Singh has convened a video conference with the collectors of coastal districts to review their preparedness to deal with any eventuality.

The IFFK, which attracts a large number of cinema aficionados and film personalities from across the country, is scheduled to begin on 8 December.

The Kerala government has cancelled the inaugural ceremony of the upcoming International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) in the wake of cyclone Ockhi affecting many districts in the state.

The Ministry of Home Affairs said that two merchant ships and 16 crew members have been rescued in Lakshadweep, The Indian Express reported.

According to The Times of India, Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani is expected to hold a press conference on Cyclone Ockhi at 5.30 pm on Tuesday in Surat.

The chief minister and his colleagues have been claiming that the government was doing everything possible to save the fishermen stranded in the sea. But the hapless fisherfolk did not believe them. They have enough reasons not to trust the state government, which let down the fishermen by not acting on the weather alerts that they received from the meteorological department and other agencies.

Revenue minister and state disaster management authority (SDMA) vice-chairman E Chandrashekharan, who is supposed to coordinate the rescue and relief efforts, was seen nowhere in the picture even when the storm battered the coast and displaced hundreds of fishing families and destroyed their houses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, appealed to BJP workers to extend a helping hand to those that would be likely hit by the cyclone, which is expected to make a landfall tonight on the states southern coast in Surat. -

Amid the heat of the Gujarat polls, cyclone Ockhi, eddying menacingly towards the states coast, poured cold water on the campaigning on Tuesday, forcing cancellation of rallies of several top leaders, including those by BJP chief Amit Shah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Those affected by the natural calamity have two days to approach government agencies with details of damage to their properties to get compensation, he told the media. - IANS

Twelve beaches in Goa have been affected by the rising sea level caused by Cyclone Ockhi, revenue minister Rohan Khaunte said on Tuesday. He said preliminary estimates suggested that the damage caused by the cyclone, which skimmed Goa's coastline, was between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 30 lakh.

Damage Expected over south #Gujarat (Valsad, Surat, Navsari, Bharuch, Dang, Tapi, Amreli, Gir- Somnath, Bhavnagar districts), Daman, Diu, and Dadra, Nagar Haveli and north Konkan Districts of #Maharashtra (Palghar, Thane, Raigarh, and Greater Mumbai) #CycloneOckhi

Areas in Gujarat and Maharashtra expected to be most affected by the storm

According to The Times of India, Kerala women's commission members will contribute a day's salary to the chief minister's disaster relief fund to help the ones affected by the cyclone.

7 teams of NDRF deployed @ Surat, Navsari, Amreli, Valsad, Bhavnagar and Somnath in Gujrat to assist the administration to deal with the situation arising due to cyclone OCKHI.

NDRF deploys seven teams in Gujarat to deal with situation due to Ockhi

Those affected by the natural calamity have two days to approach government agencies with details of damage to their properties to get compensation, he told the media. - IANS

Twelve beaches in Goa have been affected by the rising sea level caused by Cyclone Ockhi, revenue minister Rohan Khaunte said on Tuesday. He said preliminary estimates suggested that the damage caused by the cyclone, which skimmed Goa's coastline, was between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 30 lakh.

The chief secretary of Gujarat held a review meeting with government officials to look at the state's preparedness in the wake of Cyclone Ockhi, The Times of India reported.

My thoughts are with people who will be braving the onslaught of #CycloneOckhi . Urge Congress leaders and workers in Gujarat to provide all necessary help and support to the needy during this hour of crisis.

Rahul Gandhi urges Congress workers in Gujarat to provide all possible help

The BJP has also called off rallies and press conferences of Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath in Surat on Tuesday, a party leader said.

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari's roadshow in Bapunagar area of Ahmedabad was also cancelled due to light showers since early morning, Bapunagar MLA Jagroopsinh Rajput said.

IMD says cyclone Ockhi is 230 kilometre west-southWest of Mumbai, likely to continue to move north-northeastward, weaken gradually and will cross South Gujarat and North Maharashtra coast.

Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has urged people not to create panic. It further said that road and rail traffic is running smoothly.

The Times of India reported that Mumbai's Chowpatty beach has been closed for the public because Cyclone Ockhi.

Four people were killed on Thursday as heavy rains and strong winds lashed southern part of the state after cyclonic storm Ockhi hit the Kerala coast, officials said.

The worst-affected districts were Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam where several trees were uprooted.

At Vizhinjam, a woman was crushed under a tree, while in Kollam, an auto driver died after a tree fell on his auto.

In the suburban town at Kattakada near Thiruvananthapuram, a couple was electrocuted when they came in contact with a live wire that snapped and fell on the road after a tree hit an electric pole.

The state government declared a holiday for educational institutions for the day.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held an emergency meeting of top officials to take stock of the situation and has asked police and revenue officials to be on high alert.

"We have asked for help from the Navy and the Coast Guard as a batch of fishermen from here has not returned," Vijayan told the media after the meeting. The Navy has deployed ships for search and rescue operations.

The meteorological office said that heavy rains and winds in the southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu were due to a depression formed over southwest Bay of Bengal near the Sri Lanka coast and it had moved westwards and intensified into a deep depression in the early hours of Thursday.

The Met has forecast heavy rains for Friday in southern Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep and also parts of Nicobar Islands.

The report said gale wind with speeds reaching 65-75 kmph and gusting to 85 kmph are likely along and off south Kerala over the next 48 hours and off south Tamil Nadu.

Squally winds with speed reaching 55 to 65 kmph, and gusting to 75 kmph, are also very likely along and around Lakshadweep Islands.

The Met office advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala coasts and Lakshadweep Islands.

In a related development, the two-day visit of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, who was to address a party meeting on the seashore near the airport here on Friday, has been postponed on account of the heavy rains.