Cyclone Ockhi : Navy IAF Rescue operations on for missing fishermen
Thiruvananthapuram : As cyclone Ochki caused havoc in the capital rescue operations have been intensified to find the six boats with fishermen on board who went missing in the sea. A Marine Engineering vessel too has been reported to have been lost at sea near Vizhinjam following the storm.
Vizhinjam coastal police said at least 57 fishermen who took to sea from Thumba bound for Pozhiyur on Wednesday have not returned.
The Meteorological Department has forecast heavy rainfall in most places across the state and in isolated regions in South Tamil Nadu in the next 24 hours.
The Southern Naval Command is all geared up for any occurrence warranting rescue or relief.
According to an IMD bulletin, the cyclonic storm over Southeast Arabian sea has moved west-northwest at speeds of 25 kmph and hovers around southeast Arabian sea, around 230 km to the west of Thiruvananthapuram.
The bulleting also warned about storm intensifying into severe cyclone during the next 12 hours on Friday.
The violent winds are expected to then move across Lakshadweep Islands during next 24 hours.
Wind speeds along South Kerala are expected to reach 65-75 km and could escalate upto 85 kmph.
All machinery stand by on high alert and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is monitoring the situation through video conference with the Collectors of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alapuzha and Pathanamthitta.
