A red warning has been issued for the Lakshadweep Islands as Cyclone Ockhi continued to move towards the archipelago on Friday. Kalpeni and Minicoy islands in the Lakshadweep were badly hit by Cyclone Ockhi, but there were no casualties, the island's MP P.P. Mohammed Faizal said on Friday.
He said many houses had collapsed.
A helipad and a breakwater—a barrier built out into the sea to protect a coast from the force of waves—were washed away in Kalpeni.
Precautionary measures taken by the Lakshadweep administration soon after receiving the cyclone alert helped saved lives in the island, he said. Faizal said seven persons were rescued from a sinking uru—a large dhow-type wooden ship off Kavaratti. Orders have been issued to evacuate people from low-lying areas of various islands, including Kalpeni, Minicoy, Kavaratti, Agatti, Androth, Kadamath and Amini in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep.
While five fishing boats sank off Minicoy, an equal number sank off Kalpeni, he said.
The MP said he held telephonic talks with Union home minister Rajnath Singh who assured him that a team of officials from the ministry would be sent to assess the damage. He said he has also discussed the matter with officials in the Prime Minister's Office.
Precautionary measures have been taken at Kavaratti and Agatti islands where the cyclone hit Friday night. Cyclone Ockhi over Southeast Arabian Sea continued to move west-northwestwards at a speed of 130 kmph yesterday.
Gale winds, reaching 110-120 kmph gusting to 130 kmph, were very likely to blow over and around Lakshadweep during the next 24 hours. Squally wind conditions would prevail along and off Kerala and Karnataka coasts.
According to the Indian Navy, two ships with relief materials are on standby at Lakshadweep for humanitarian assistance.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture out to the Arabian sea along the Kanyakumari, Kerala and south Karnataka coasts.
Cyclone Ockhi, which in Bengali means 'eye', on Thursday intensified into a severe cyclonic storm on Friday and moved to the Arabian Sea.