Cyclone Ockhi causes large-scale damage to Kerala and Tamil Nadu, leaves eight dead
Chennai, Dec 1 (IBNS): Cyclone Ockhi has devastated normal life in many areas of Tamil Nadu and Kerala and is likely to disrupt life in Lakshadweep, according to media reports on Friday.
The Met office has issued heavy to very heavy rainfall warning forLakshadweep.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has spoken to DG NDRF and reviewed the situation in the areas affected by cyclone Ockhi.
In Kanyakumari and Thoothukudi districts of Tamil Nadu, strong winds uprooted more than 500 trees, snapped power lines and damaged settlements close to the sea, reported NDTV on Friday.
Schools have shut down in many of the affected areas.
According to media reports, the heavy rains have left eight people dead in the two southern states.
The Indian Navy has rescued eight fishermen out in the sea, of whom two are in critical condition, local media said.
According to another report, the Navy is engaged in rescuing 24 stranded people.
The NDRF teams have already been moved to the affected areas. More teams are on standby to respond to any further emergencies. Ministry of Home Affairs is also closely monitoring the situation, the ministry said in a tweet.
Meanwhile Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, MP from Kanya Kumari Lok Sabha constituency tweeted on Friday, "Today, I called on Hon'ble Mos Home Shri @KirenRijiju ji to provide central assistance to face the grave situation of #CycloneOckhi in TN. He informed that 2 NDRF teams already deployed to the affected region. Hon'ble Mos Home Shri @KirenRijiju ji assured that all necessary assistance will be provided."
.The name Ockhi was given by Bangladesh, under the the tropical cyclone naming system initiated by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in 2000.
The next cyclone will be named Sagar, given by India.
Image: AIRNews/Twitter
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