Mangaluru: Minister U T Khader on Sunday, Dec 3 visited cyclone affected coastal areas here in Ullal and Someshwar and assured of providing necessary help for families affected.
Khader said that several houses on the sea side are facing the threat of being washed away by the turbulent waves owing to Ockhi cyclone which has claimed several lives in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. “As per the meterological department, the chances of the pace of cyclone Ockhi is less-likely to intensify here. The district administration since last night has asked the residents affected here not to panic and has also made necessary arrangements to relocate them,” he added.
Coastal areas of Ullal, Someshwar, Uchila, Mogaveerapatna and Khiliria witnessed violent waves from 9pm to 3am late on Saturday night. Over 80 families from Talapady to Ullal have been moved to safer places.
At least three houses have been damaged by the cyclone induced waters. Fifteen coconut palm trees have been uprooted and some more have been washed away entirely. The retaining wall at Peribail near Uchila, built by the government in a bid to prevent erosion by the sea, was also washed away on the Saturday night. A similar wall built privately in Ullal, was also washed away by the rough seas.
In all, 7 people have died in the coastal region of Kerala, 6 in Tamil Nadu and nearly 90 fishermen are missing as a depression above the Bay of Bengal turned into a cyclonic storm.
Cyclone Ockhi intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and moved towards the Lakshadweep islands on December 2, after causing heavy rain that has left around 13 people dead in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Navy has been called in to rescue stranded fishermen. Cyclone Ockhi is likely to strengthen further, triggering a “red warning” for Lakshadweep – the highest category alert.
The worst seems to be over in the mainland but forecasters have warned of heavy rain in parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Schools near the coast in the two states have been closed. In the Kanyakumari and Thoothukudi districts of Tamil Nadu, strong winds uprooted more than 500 trees, snapped power lines and damaged settlements close to the sea. Heavy rain is likely to continue.
The coast guard has warned against venturing into the sea till Monday at the least.
