Cyclone Ockhi intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and moved to the Arabian Sea today even as the Navy rescued eight fishermen caught in choppy waters and intensified search for 30 others missing. Rains, which left eight persons dead including four each in Tamil Nadu and Kerala yesterday, continued to lash parts of the two states.
A Defence spokesperson today said 13 boats with 38 crew from Kerala and one boat from Tamil Nadu with four persons on board were missing. A Navy aircraft rescued eight of them.
“The fishermen were found floating in water by Advance Light Helicopter,” the spokesperson said. The weather department said Kanyakumari, Tuticorin and Tirunelveli districts in Tamil Nadu received rains for the third day today though the cyclone threat mitigated as the system, lying 70 kms south of Kanyakumari yesterday, moved to the Arabian sea.
Gale winds speed reaching 110-120 kmph gusting to 130 kmph were very likely over and around Lakshadweep during next 24 hours. Squally wind conditions would prevail along and off Kerala and Karnataka coast.
