Cyclone Ockhi wreaks havoc in South Kerala, to intensify into severe storm over Lakshadweep

Laxmi Prasanna | TNN | Nov 30, 2017, 22:36 IST

Highlights

The storm is moving towards the west-north westwards towards Lakshadweep islands and adjoining areas.

It is expected to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours in Kerala and by 48 hours over Lakshadweep.

The name Ockhi means 'eye' in Bengali and was given by Bangladesh, as a member of WMO.




The cyclonic storm wreaked havoc in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Ernakulum.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Cyclonic storm 'Ockhi' over Comorin area at 11.12 am on Thursday that kicked off 75 km per hour along Kanyakumari moved westwards at a speed of 32 kmph during the last six hours which is 70 km south of Kerala capital. The storm is moving towards the west-north westwards towards Lakshadweep islands and adjoining areas. It is expected to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours in Kerala and by 48 hours over Lakshadweep.

The core effects of the cyclonic storm has led to havoc in Kerala mostly along South Kerala with incessant heavy rains and squally winds gusting up to 65 km per hour during transit which is expected to intensify further till December 1. The havoc has claimed eight lives including four lives in Kanyakumari and four lives in South Kerala with about 180 fishermen from Poonthura missing and brought many parts of South Kerala into a standstill with tree fall, jamming electricity and cable wires along the roads leaving traffic haywire in many parts. With that chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan through video conferencing called for an emergency response across the state by KSDMA in coordination with the district collectors and officials of various departments in the state.

"The deep depression over Bay of Bengal and Sri Lanka since Wednesday turned into the cyclonic storm Ockhi at 11.12 am today and the core effects of that is felt with heavy rains, squally winds and high waves with rough sea along Kerala coast. It is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over night and will move to Lakshadweep with a landfall. The name of the cyclonic storms are given by the World Meteorological Organisation based on the UN Charter," Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) member secretary Sekhar Kuriakose told TOI. "So by afternoon, we had issued the alert and the Minister has declared a holiday for schools," he said. The name Ockhi means 'eye' in Bengali was given by Bangladesh, as a member of WMO.

The cyclonic storm wreaked havoc in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Ernakulum. The coast guards, Indian Navy personnel and the National Disaster Response Force team have been alerted and they will be in the affected areas of the state to take up the rescue and rehabilitation works, KSDMA officials said. The state has sought the support of Indian Navy helicopters, Dornier aircrafts and ships for the rescue works. In addition, the state has sought the support of Indian Air Force for the rescue work.

While in a joint alert by KSDMA, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD (and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), forecasted high waves in the range of 3.0 to 5.4 meters (10 to 18 feet) during 6:30 pm on November 30 to 11.30 pm on December 2 along the coast of Kerala from Vizhinjam to Kasaragod. The current speeds vary between 47 to 65 cm/sec.

"We have also issued a joint warning on 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 over interior Tamil Nadu and Kerala during subsequent 24 hours, IMD director S Sudevan told TOI.

In the joint alert, they have also warned of Gale wind speed reaching 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph very likely along & off South Kerala during next 48 hours and along & off south Tamil Nadu during next 24 hours. With that, Squally winds speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph very likely along and around Lakshadweep Islands during next 12 hours and increase thereafter with wind speeds becoming 80 to 90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph from tonight of November 30, INCOIS scientists said.

It warns that damage is expected over South Kerala in the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Kollam, Pathanathitta, Thiruvananthapuram districts, adjoining districts of south Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep Islands: Damage to power and communication lines due to breaking of tree branches and uprooting of trees, damage to thatched houses particularly with major damage to kutcha houses and minor damage to pucca roads. Further, damage to paddy crops, banana, Papaya trees and orchards is also warned in the region.

"We have also issued joint warning of Storm surge of about 1 meter above astronomical tides very likely to inundate low lying areas of Lakshadweep Islands from tonight, the November 30, 2017. Storm surge of about 0.5 meter above astronomical tides very likely to inundate low lying areas of coastal districts of south Kerala and adjoining districts of south Tamil Nadu during the next 12 hours. We had issued warning since yesterday to the fishermen not to venture into the sea and sought the coastal community to be cautious," KSDMA scientists said.