In Photos: Cyclone Ockhi’s Long Trail of Destruction

Cyclone Ockhi has caused a lot of damage to southern coastal area and is steadily heading towards Mumbai and Gujarat

A man looks at one of the many roads damaged by Cyclone Ockhi.

(Photo: PTI)

Cyclone Ockhi, which has already desecrated parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep has changed its course and is now heading north towards Maharashtra and Gujarat.

The cyclone has claimed at least 38 lives in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Over 690 fishermen have been rescued so far, and 100 people have been reported missing due to the cyclone.

Mumbai experiences un-seasonal showers following the fast approaching cyclone Ockhi(Photo: PTI)

According to the Met department, the cyclone is is now just 390 kms away from Surat. It is expected to make landfall in the next 48 hours, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.

The Navy said that ten of its ships and eight aircraft were involved in the ongoing search and rescue operations in Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands, due to the cyclone.

A total of 1,047 persons, including fishermen in Lakshadweep, have been rescued so far.

A damaged boat on the coast of Lakshadweep.(Photo: PTI)

As many as 1,540 people, including fishermen, affected by Cyclone Ockhi in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Lakshadweep were rescued by various agencies, the government said 4 December.

Indian fisherman who was rescued from the Arabian Sea is rushed to a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala state.(Photo: AP)

A rescued fisherman is rushed to the hospital in Kerala.(Photo:  AP)

Cyclone Ockhi, which has caused widespread damage in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts, will not be termed a national disaster, Minister of State for Tourism KJ Alphons said earlier.

The Kerala government decided to approach the Centre for declaring Ockhi a national disaster.

Minister of State for Tourism (I/C) and Electronics & Information Technology, Alphons Kannanthanam consoling the victims of Cyclone Ockhi.(Photo: PTI)

Fishermen who were out at sea were most severely affected by the cyclone. Many successful attempts have been made to rescue those stranded, but locating them and sending help has proven to be extremely difficult.

Many family members of the missing fishermen had staged a protest demanding that the government take steps to identify the missing fishermen in the district.

Families of the fishermen from Kerala and Tamil Nadu who went missing after the cyclone Ockhi stage a protest.(Photo: PTI)

The damage caused by Cyclone Ockhi has been so severe that many families have been forced to seek refuge in makeshift camps. Important roads leading to the affected areas and the relief camps have also been damaged.

This makes it difficult to transport basic essentials like food and clean water to people living in relief camps.

Several roads that connect Kanyakumari with many interior parts have got cut or were fully damaged due to heavy rainfall(Photo: PTI)

Survivors take refuge in one of the many relief camps that have been set up. (Photo: PTI)

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