Cyclone Ockhi wreaks havoc in Kerala, likely to make landfall in Gujarat Tuesday midnight
Cyclone Ockhi would enter south Gujarat tomorrow midnight, an IMD forecast said.
After wreaking havoc in Kerala and Tamil Nadu along the southern coast, Cyclone Ockhi is expected to make landfall in coastal Gujarat Tuesday midnight, an India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast said today.
According to the IMD forecast, Cyclone Ockhi would enter south Gujarat tomorrow midnight. This will the impact coastal areas from Umargam (in south Gujarat) till Gir Somnath district (in Saurashtra).
"Heavy rainfall might occur in Valsad, Surat, Navsari, Bharuch, Dang, Tapi, Amreli, Gir-Sonath and Bhavnagar districts on December 5," IMD said.
The Maharashtra government has declared a holiday for schools and colleges in Mumbai and adjoining districts tomorrow due to "serious weather predictions" in view of the cyclone.
According to the IMD official, a warning of heavy rainfall was issued in north Konkan and north Madhya Maharashtra.
Defence forces, paramilitary and National Disaster Response Force along with state forces have kept on high alert in both Gujarat and Maharastra in view of the cyclone.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today visited cKerala and assured the state of all help while asserting that rescue operations would continue till every missing fishermen was brought back safely.
A total of 20 fishermen from the state were rescued by Navy today while the toll in rain-related incidents in the aftermath of 'Ochki' cyclone was officially put at 25.
Sitharaman gave the assurance at a meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan here after visiting some areas hit by the natural calamity in the district, a CMO release said.
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Cyclone Ockhi would enter south Gujarat tomorrow midnight, an IMD forecast said.
Heavy rainfall might occur in Valsad, Surat, Navsari, Bharuch, Dang, Tapi, Amreli, Gir-Sonath and Bhavnagar districts of Gujarat on December 5, says IMD
According to the IMD, Gujarat is likely to experience a wet spell during the next four days.
Army, Navy, and the BSF have been alerted in the view of the cyclone's landfall in Gujarat tomorrow midnight
Army, Navy, and the BSF have been alerted in the view of the cyclone's landfall in Gujarat tomorrow midnight
Cyclone Ockhi expected to hit south Gujarat between night of December 4 and December 6 resulting in moderate to heavy rainfall and heavy wind/gust, says IMD
Cyclone Ockhi: Mumbai University and affiliated colleges will not be closed tomorrow. All exams scheduled to be conducted as announced earlier.
Cyclone Ockhi: Death toll in rain-related incidents in Kerala rises to 25
Cyclone Ockhi: Indian Navy brings relief material to affected people in Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands
All emergency numbers have been updated. Emergency cell has been opened at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Kalyan: Central Railway, Mumbai Division
More than 250 railway police force and Maharashtra State Security Force personnel have been deployed on crowd management and other related activities at stations, yards etc: Central Railway, Mumbai Division
Cyclone Ockhi: INS Kalpeni rescues 11 fishermen off the coast of Kochi in Kerala
Cyclone Ockhi: Mumbai Disaster management unit of BMC issues advisory against visiting beaches in view of high tide alert issued for tonight and tomorrow morning
Precautionary holiday declared on Decmber 5 for schools and colleges in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Sindhudurga, Thane, Raigad and Palghar Districts for the safety of the students due to the serious weather predictions on Cyclone Ockhi: Maharashtra Minister Vinod Tawde
Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh offers to send a stock of 100 MT of rice to Cyclone Ockhi affected Lakshadweep in a telephonic conversation with Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Cyclone Ockhi: NDRF teams deployed at Adiyar in Chennai, Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, one additional team en-route to Cuddalore.
Cyclone Ockhi: Four NDRF teams deployed at Thrisur, Kochi and Sabarimala in Kerala
Cyclone Ockhi: 6 NDRF mobilised and pre-positioned at Surat, Navsari and Rajkot in view of alert for Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Cyclone Ockhi: Banaskantha administration in Gujarat declares high alert in the district from Dec 4-Dec 6
Rajnath Singh speaks to CMs of Tamil Nadu and Kerala and administrator of Lakshadweep regarding Cyclone Ockhi.
Cyclone Ockhi: Four boats with 48 fishermen reached Thoppumpady harbor in Kerala; No causalities or damage reported to their boats.
The NDMA has also shared a list of guidelines to citizens on how to act before and after a cyclone
High tides early morning on Sunday reportedly due to the Ockhi cyclone that has hit Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep inundated several beach stretches in Goa, hotel owners said.
They said that the water rushed into the beach shacks washing away beds put up on the shoreline.
The beaches like Morjim in North Goa and Mobor in South Goa were among the worst hit due to the water surge, they added.
Well-patronised beaches in North Goa like Baga and Anjuna too faced the consequences of the high tide with tourists refusing to visit the shoreline since Saturday evening.
Mumbai's disaster management team has been put on high alert. The IMD has already predicted light to heavy showers along the Maharashtra coast.
Mumbai has already witnessed a cloud cover from Sunday. "Although there is no specific warning for Mumbai, the disaster management team are on high alert," said chief officer Mahesh Narvekar.
Hospitals, too, have been put on high alert.
According to a report by The Hindu, a missing fishing boat, Island Queen, with nine crew members from Kochi was located by the Navy 132 nautical miles North of Kavaratti in Lakshdweep. The fishermen were replenished with food and water. They will be supported by INS Kolkata for some time before setting course towards Kochi later in the day.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met with the families of fishermen affected by the cyclone at Vizhinjam in Thiruvanthapuram. She assured that search and rescue operations by the Indian Navy, Coastguard and the Airforce will continue with full vigour
Light to moderate rainfall over Gujarat region on 6th December (up to around noon). Light to moderate rainfall at many places with isolated heavy rainfall is also likely over north Konkan on 5th December: NDMA
The National Disaster Management Authority has cautioned fishermen from South Gujarat and North Maharashtra to not venture into sea between December 4 and December 6
The Indian Navy also continued its rescue operations in Lakshadweep's Karavatti islands
Indian Naval ships Chennai, Trikand & Kolkata are stationed around the Lakshadweep islands with HADR materials. The ships are equipped with desalination plants & will be able to provide the islands fresh water as and when required, said commander Sridhar Warrier PRO (Defence), Kochi.
In addition, the total relief material would sustain approximately 5,000 people for a week. Commander Rao added that naval units in the vicinity of Lakshadweep and Minicoy have been directed to provide fresh water in consultation with local administration.
Meanwhile, rescue and relief operations continued in Lakshadweep. Lakshadweep islands has suffered a loss of over Rs 500 crore, Lakshadweep MP Mohammad Faizal said on Sunday, seeking Centre's assistance to restore normal life in the islands isolated by the storm.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has reached Kerala capital Thiruvanthapuram to assess the situation.
After wreaking havoc in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep, the cyclone has weakened in those states, and its intensity is further expected to reduce from very severe to severe on Monday. The cyclone is on a north-western cause, drifting towards coastlines of Gujarat and Maharashtra at a speed of 17 kilometres per hour.
The National Disaster Management Authority has warned fishermen from venturing into sea for the next 48 hours