Tamil Nadu weather: 865 people evacuated from low lying areas in Kanyakumari. (PTI)
A depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclone, dubbed Cyclone Ockhi on Thursday, which has led to the death of four people in Kanyakumari district. The situation is particularly worrisome in Kankyakumari, where over 845 people have been evacuated from the low lying areas. The MeT department has predicted
more heavy rainfall to Tamil Nadu, Lakshadweep and parts of Kerala in the coming week. The IMD said it expects rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala during the next 24 hours and isolated heavy falls during the subsequent 24 hours. Rescue operations are on by the Southern Naval Command, which has deployed three ships and two aircraft to locate around 13 fishermen who are missing. Sea conditions are expected to be very rough in the area, the weather office said. The IMD also said it expects damage to power and communication lines due to falling tree branches and uprooted trees. It also warned those living in thatched huts of damage and minor damage to pucca roads.
Four deaths in Kerala due to cyclone Ockhi
Four people have died in Kerala due to the cyclone. In Kollam, a man died after a tree fell on an auto rickshaw he was in. Two were electrocuted in rural Trivandrum and a woman died in a hospital after a tree fell on the house she lived in.
Cyclone Ockhi currently lies at about 130 km southwest of Thiruvananthapuram, says IMD Chennai
Intermittent rain possible in Chennai tonight and tomorrow
Cyclone Ockhi likely to intensify into severe storm by tomorrow morning
Cyclone Ockhi is likely to intensify into severe storm by tomorrow morning with wind speed upto 120 kmph, according to the weather forecast. Lakshadweep, South Kerala and Tamil Nadu are likely to be hit by heavy rainfall.
#CycloneOckhi lay centered 120 kms west-southwest of Kanyakumari, likely to move west-northwestwards towards Lakshadweep Islands; to intensify into severe storm by tomorrow morning with wind speed upto 120 kmph; Heavy rainfall warning for Lakshadweep, South Kerala & Tamilnadu. pic.twitter.com/wiuM5xY8IZ
Tamil Nadu disaster management team releases advisory following cyclone Ockhi
The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Agency of Government has released an advisory, following cyclone Ockhi, listing the precautions which need to be followed in the unpredictable weather conditions in the state.
Mukkadal Dam in Kanyakumari has reportedly reached full level. Excess water is being let off from the damn to prevent flooding.
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825 people evacuated from low lying areas in Kanniyakumari, 985 electric polls affected
Over 825 people have been evacuated from low lying areas of Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district, where over 16 houses were completely damaged by the cyclone. Around 985 electric poles were affected due to the weather conditions in the state.
Schools in Thiruvananthipuram, Kollam to remain shut
All schools in Kerala's Thiruvananthipuram and Kollam districts will remain shut as a precautionary measure by the government. Other towns in coastal areas are likely to take the same measure.
Chennai Weather: Rain Batters Tamil Nadu, Cyclone Ockhi Heads For Lakshadweep: 10 Points
Four people were killed as heavy rain hammered coastal Tamil Nadu today after a depression in the Bay of Bengal turned into a cyclonic storm called Cyclone Ockhi about 60 km from the southern tip of the state. With the cyclone headed west towards Lakshadweep, it is unlikely to make a landfall in Tamil Nadu, the weather office said. Schools in seven districts of the state including Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Virudhunagar were closed. In Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari, strong winds uprooted trees, snapped power lines and damaged settlements close to the sea. Heavy showers are likely to continue for the next 24 hours.
The Southern Naval Command is gearing up for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief that may be required due to the effects Cyclone Ockhi in the southern part of Kerala, says news agency ANI.
Trees uprooted, power lines disrupted in Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep
Courtallam waterfalls in Tirunelveli declared out of bounds for tourists
"Cyclone might continue affecting areas surrounding Tamil Nadu, Odisha till next week"
Senior Meteorologist Jason Nicholls said that areas surrounding Tamil Nadu to Odisha in east India might be needed to put on alert for possible impacts later next week due to cyclone Ockhi.
Our thoughts with people suffering in Kanyakumari, says Kamal Haasan
Actor Kamal Haasan today tweeted over the endless rain in Tamil Nadu which has resulted in the death of four people. "Kanniyakumari floats in rain. Our thoughts with people suffering there," the actor tweeted in Tamil.
Four dead in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district
Rahul Gandhi's Kerala visit postponed
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's Kerala visit, scheduled for December 1st, has been posponed due to cyclonic conditions in the state.
Cyclone Ockhi Update
985 electric poles and more than 500 trees fallen in Kanyakumari district
2 units of SDRF and 2 units of NDRF being deployed to meet any eventuality
Fishermen in Kanyakumari, Tuticorin, Rameswaram have been asked not to venture out into sea till Dec 1 as wind speed will be 65-70 kmph. Sea will be rough: Chennai Met Office
"In wake of Ockhi Cyclone alert for Kanyakumari, Tuticorin and coastal Tirunelveli stay safe indoors and take precautions but DON'T PANIC," tweeted Tamil Nadu's State Disaster Management Authority
Latest on cyclone Ockhi
2 NDRF teams with 60 personnel rush to Kanyakumari
A team of 47 NDRF personnel to be stationed in Kochi for requirements in Lakshadweep
Storm damage in Tamil Nadu's Nagarcoil district. Courtesy: Ren Abraham.
As a precaution, all schools in Kerala have been closed post noon
Kanyakumari administration swiftly responds and clearing trees in major roads
According to SkymetWeather, damage expected over Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Kollam, Pathanathitta, Thiruvananthapuram in south Kerala, adjoining districts of south TamilNadu such as Kanyakumari, Tutukudi, Tirunelveli and Lakshadweep
Weather monitoring agency Skymet says it expects rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely at isolated places over south Tamil Nadu, south Kerala over the next 24 hours. Isolated heavy rain is expected over interior Tamil Nadu and Kerala during subsequent 24 hours.
Before it turned into a cyclone here is the kind of damage it caused in Kanyakumari.
Here is what the wind pattern and trajectory of the storm looks like.
Cyclone Ockhi is unlikely to make a landfall in Tamil Nadu as it heads west towards Lakshadweep Islands. But heavy to very heavy rain is forecast for south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala. Stormy winds can touch 65-75 kmph in south Tamil Nadu and 50-60 kmph in the northern part of the state.
BREAKING: Cyclone Ockhi forms 60 km from southern tip of Tamil Nadu, likely to intensify and head towards Lakshadweep Islands
The IMD says it expected damage to power and communication lines due to breaking tree branches and trees being uprooted. The weather office also warned of damage to thatched houses and minor damage to pucca roads, damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards.
Stormy winds speed between 55 kmph to 75 kmph are also very likely along and around Lakshadweep Islands during the next 24 hours and gradual increase in wind speed becoming 70-90 kmph during subsequent 24 hours, the weather office warned. Sea conditions would be very rough to high along and off South Kerala during next 48 hours and along and off south Tamil Nadu during the next 24 hours. Sea conditions would be very rough to high along and around Lakshadweep Islands during the next 24 hours and high during the subsequent 24 hours.
The IMD says the storm system is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a cyclonic storm during next 12 hours. "Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala during next 24 hours and isolated heavy falls during subsequent 24 hours," the IMD said in media release. Stormy winds between 55 kmph to 75 kmph very likely along South Kerala during the next 48 hours and along south Tamil Nadu during the next 24 hours, it added.
At 10 am, the India Meteorological Department or IMD issued a cyclone alert for Lakshadweep Islands and updates on the deep depression over Comorin area near Tamil Nadu coast. "A depression formed over southwest Bay of Bengal near southeast Sri Lanka coast in the morning of 29th November, 2017. "It moved nearly westwards and intensified into a deep depression in the early hours of today and lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of today, the 30th November, 2017 over Comorin area," the IMD said.