Cyclone 'Ockhi' to intensify into severe cyclonic storm

A bullet in issued by the Met office on Thursday said the cyclonic storm 'Ockhi' over Comorin area moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 32 kmph during the past six hours and lay centred over Comorin area and its neighbourhood about 410 km west-northwest of Galle in Sri Lanka, 70 km southwest of Kanyakumari, 70 km south of Thiruvananthapuram and 410 km east-southeast of Minicoy. 

The system is very likely to move west-northwestwards towards Lakshadweep Islands and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours.

Under its influence, rainfall at most places, with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places, were likely over south Tamil Nadu and south Kerala during next 24 hours and isolated heavy falls over interior Tamil Nadu and Kerala during subsequent 24 hours.

Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls were likely over Lakshadweep area during the next 48 hours.

Gale winds, with speed reaching 65-75 kmph and gusting to 85 kmph were likely along and off South Kerala during the next 48 hours and along and off south Tamil Nadu during next 24 hours.

Squally winds with speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph were likely along and around Lakshadweep Islands during next 12 hours and increase thereafter with wind speeds becoming 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph from tonight.

Meanwhile, reports received here said, heavy rains pounded several southern districts, including Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Tuticorin districts, throwing normal life out of gear.

Incidents of uprooting of trees were reported from these Cyclone hit districts and people in low lying areas were evacuated to safer places and relief camps and personnel from NDRF and SDRF from Arakkonam were rushed to Kanyakumari and other districts for rescue and relief works.

Since the met office has predicted heavy to very heavy rains, the district administration has asked the people to remain indoors till further announcement.

Schools in southern districts were declared a holiday for the day.