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Cyclone Ockhi have caused huge losses in Tamilnadu and Kerla. Till now,eight persons are claimed to be dead. More than 200 fishermen are reported to be untraceable.Heavy rain has caused floodlike situation and it is causing submergence of many areas in many districts of Tamilnadu and Kerla. It is reported that union Home Minister,Shri Rajnath Singh is closely monitoring the situation himself.He is in constant touch with Director general of NDRF and other agencies involved in disaster management activities. The cyclonic storm ‘OCKHI’ over Southeast Arabian Sea continued to move westnorthwestwards with a speed of 17 kmph during past 06 hours, intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of today, the 01st December, 2017 over southeast Arabian Sea near Latitude 8.8º N and Longitude 74.0º E, about 110 km north-northeast of Minicoy and 290 km southeast of Amini Divi. The system is very likely to intensify further during next 24 hours. It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards across Lakshadweep Islands during next 24 hours and then move north/northeastwards during the subsequent 48 hours. As per Indian Meteorological Department,this cyclone Ockhi is moving towards Lakshdweep Island and it will further intensify into category of sever cyclone.This intensification will cause heavy rainfall in Lakshadweep Islands.The matter of relief is that this movement of cyclone to west-northwestwards will reduce amount of rainfall over Tamilnadu and Kerala. IMD warning related to Ockhi Warning: (i) Heavy Rainfall warning: Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (>20 cm) very likely over Lakshadweep area during next 24 hours and isolated heavy to very heavy falls during subsequent 24 hours. Rainfall at many places with heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over Kerala during next 24 hours. (ii) Wind warning: Gale winds speed reaching 110-120 kmph gusting to 130 kmph very likely over & around Lakshadweep Islands during next 24 hours and gradual decrease thereafter. Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph very likely along & off Kerala during next 24 hours and along & off Karnataka coast during next 24 hours. (ii) Sea condition: Sea conditions would be high to very high over and around Lakshadweep Islands during next 24 hours and high during subsequent 24 hours. Sea conditions would be high to very high along & off Kerala coast during next 24 hours and along & off Karnataka coast during subsequent 24 hours. (iii) Damage Expected over Lakshadweep Islands: Damage to power and communication lines due to breaking of tree branches and uprooting of large avenue trees. Major damage to thatched houses/huts: Major damage to kutcha houses, some damage to pucca roads and flooding of escape routes. Damage to banana & Papaya trees and standing crops. (iv) Storm surge: Storm surge of about 1 meter above astronomical tides very likely to inundate low lying areas of Lakshadweep Islands. Other developments- Kerala government is monitoring the situation from Thiruvananthapuram . The Indian Navy has set up a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operation in southern part of Kerala.It has also launched a massive
