Cyclone Ockhi LIVE Updates: Death Toll Rises to 17; Navy, Coast Guard Rescue Over 200 Kerala Fishermen

Heavy rains continue to batter coastal areas of Kerala and south Tamil Nadu, claiming 17 lives and crippling normal life, even as Cyclone Ockhi lay centered north-northeast of Minicoy in Lakshadweep. The Navy and Coast Guard have rescued as many as 218 Kerala fishermen who were stranded at due to inclement weather.

Dec 2, 20178:20 am (IST)

The Central Water Commission (CWC) has warned that the heavy downpour in Tamil Nadu and Kerala might trigger a rapid rise in the water level of rivers in the two southern states. A CWC advisory said the west-flowing rivers in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzzha and Ernakulam in Kerala were likely to rise over the next 24 hours and then, slowly fall as the rains reduced. However, the rivers in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari were likely to remain in a “high flood” situation during the period. The Papanasam and Manimutharu dams in Tamil Nadu were likely to get heavy inflows due to the rainfall for the next 12 to 24 hours. The east-flowing Tambraparani river was likely to rise all along its course in Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts of the state during the next two-three days.

Dec 2, 20178:03 am (IST)

In Kerala, two fishermen died while 218 others were safely evacuated in rescue operations jointly launched by the Indian Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard in the seas off the state as heavy rains lashed the area under the influence of Cyclone Ockhi. Cyclonic storm Ockhi had hit the southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Thursday, and caused widespread destruction in the southern districts of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. The rescue operations that began on Friday morning comprised 11 ships of the Navy, Coast Guard and Coastal Police, six helicopters and two Dornier aircraft.