Ministry of Defence
06-December, 2017 20:03 IST
Relief Operations
Southern Naval Command continued ‘OP Sahayam’, an Indian Navy exercise for undertaking Search and Rescue (SAR) and providing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster relief (HADR) material support, over Southeast Arabian Sea and L& M islands in the aftermath of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm 'OCKHI'.
Nine naval ships including frontline ships from Western Naval Command INS Chennai, Kolkata and four types of aircraft including long range maritime reconnaissance aircraft P8I, Dornier, SeaKing and Chetak were continued to be deployed over an extended SAR area up to 300 miles west of L& M islands and 450 miles off Kerala coast.
On 05 Dec 17, late night,
the P8I aircraft carrying out surveillance detected fishing vessel St Damian which was drifting away at 180 miles Northwest of Kavaratti and directed INS Chennai to provide assistance. The thirteen member crew were taken onboard Chennai early morning on 06 Dec and provided with food, water and medical aid. The boat was towed and handed over to Coast Guard Ship Shoor as part of “Op Synergy” since boat engine had become unserviceable and could not be repaired at sea despite best efforts by the team of INS Chennai.
On 06 Dec 17, based on request from fishing community,
INS Kalpeni embarked six local fishermen from Kochi and INS Kabra embarked two fishermen from Kollam to join the ongoing SAR efforts and to facilitate guided search for missing fishing vessels, based on specific inputs provided by these fishermen. Both naval ships will return to Kochi post completion of the search operations as per guidance offered by the fishermen onboard.
INS Jamuna positioned at Kavaratti has provided 12000 litres of fresh water as requested by L&M administration. The HADR material required for the island has already been delivered by INS Chennai.
INS Sharda, which had returned to Kochi for refueling has now embarked materials such as 2000Lts fresh water, medicines, food, emergency lights, petrol, portable 10 KVA power generators, tool kits, Boiler suits etc as requested by Minicoy administration. The items will be delivered in the morning on 07 Dec 17.
Minicoy, which was the most devastated island, is quickly returning back to normalcy with the naval contingent present there actively involving themselves in activities such as clearing of roads, cutting of fallen trees, distribution of rations to villagers, distribution of
HADR items, cleaning of premises of relief camp and clearing path for Helipad etc. The swift and timely action of Indian Navy has thus far provided assistance to 187 persons at sea, besides saving 148 lives and undertaking evacuation of three bodies from deep sea.
All search and rescue activities are being conducted in coordination with central agencies.
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Ministry of Earth Science
06-December, 2017 17:37 IST
Low Pressure Area over south coastal Gujarat & Neighbourhood (1430 hours)
Low Pressure Area over south coastal Gujarat & neighbourhood
Yesterday’s
Cyclonic Storm over east-central Arabian Sea moved north-northeastwards, weakened into a
Deep Depression in the afternoon and into a
Depression during late evening of yesterday, the 5th December, 2017. It continued to move north-northeastwards, weakened further into a
well marked low pressure area and crossed south Gujarat coast during the early hours of today. It further weakened and lay as a
low pressure area over south coastal Gujarat and neighbourhood at 0830 hours IST of today, the 06th December 2017.
No adverse weather likely due to this system.
Realised Weather:
Light to moderate rainfall occurred at most places over south Gujarat region and north Maharashtra with isolated heavy rainfall. Light to moderate rainfall also occurred at many places over Saurashtra and north Gujarat region. Chief amounts of 24 hr cumulative rainfall ending at 0830 IST of 06 Dec. 2017 are given below.
Gujarat Region
Umergam & Vapi-9 each; Pardi, Waghai, Vansda & Gandevi-7 each; Dharampur, Valsad, Chikhli & Kaprada, Vyara & Valod-6 each and Dangs & Subir-5 each.
North Coastal Maharashtra
Dahanu-10; Talasari & Colaba-8 each; Palghar-7 and Malvan, Vikramgad, Vasai & Santacruz 5 each
This is the last update for this system.
(i) Graphics in association with Cyclone Ockhi
Ministry of Earth Science
06-December, 2017 16:50 IST
Depression over Southeast Bay of Bengal (1430 hours)
The
Depression over southeast Bay of Bengal & neighbourhood moved northwestwards and lay centred at 1130 hrs IST of today, the 06 December, 2017 near Latitude 8.8º N and Longitude 88.3 ºE, about 1120 km to the southeast of Machillipatnam and 1200 km south-southeast of Gopalpur. The system is very likely to move northwestwards and reach Andhra Pradesh coast around 8th December evening. The system is likely to intensify further into a deep depression during next 48 hours. However, there is a probability of slight weakening of the system when it reaches near Andhra Pradesh coast.
Warnings:
Heavy Rainfall:
· Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Andaman and Nicobar Islands during next 24 hours.
· Rainfall at many places very likely over north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha during 7th to 9th December, 2017 with isolated heavy falls on 8th and 9th.
Wind:
· Squally winds speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph very likely over and around Andaman and Nicobar Islands during next 24 hours and decrease thereafter.
· Squally winds speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph very likely to prevail along and off Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts from 7th evening to 9th December morning and decrease thereafter.
Sea Condition:
· Sea condition would be rough to very rough around Andaman and Nicobar Islands during next 24 hours.
· Sea condition would be rough to very rough along and off Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts from 7th evening to 9th December morning.
Action suggested:
· Fishermen along and off Andaman and Nicobar Islands are advised not to venture into sea till the forenoon of 7th December, 2017.
· Fishermen along and off north Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts are advised not to venture into sea till 9th December morning.
Tourists walk through a broken shack at Candolim Beach in Goa on December 5, 2017. | Photo Credit:
Atish Pomburfekar
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ge-parrikar/article21282578.ece?homepage=true
The Chief Minister admits that the State has no standard operating procedures for managing natural disasters.
The supermoon on December 3 and not Cyclone Ockhi per se was responsible for the rise in seawater level that damaged Goa'’s coastline and beach shacks, according to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
At a press briefing post a Cabinet meeting, when asked about the State’s disaster management preparedness, Mr. Parrikar admitted that the State had no standard operating procedures (SOP) in place for managing such crises and
natural disasters. The required SOPs were being worked out, he added.
“The reason for the seawater level rise is simple. It is because there was a supermoon that day. Many people did not realise this. Supermoon means the biggest tidal effect. So as it is, even if there was no cyclone, you would have had the tide and most of the tide would have entered the shacks,” he said.
“So first of all, this incident would have taken place even without a cyclone, because the water would be much higher than normal high tide. It is a special day; on that day it happens. With cyclone impact, some rise in water level added up. So the damage was slightly more,” he said.
Nearly a dozen beaches along the State’s 100 km coastline were affected by the rise in seawater level on December 3 night. This led to sand erosion in many places and damage to beach shacks, temporarily erected eateries on beaches, which cater to the tourists, especially foreigners.
Responding to criticism of the State government for poor disaster response mechanisms, Mr. Parrikar said, “At present, there is no SOP in place. So today we discussed. I have asked Revenue Minister to work out the SOPs. This is the biggest problem. So people do not know what to do next.”
“This is one of the best thing I learnt from the Army. Everywhere, even if they have to shave, they will have SOP. How the clothes have to be tied. What should be the colour of the clothes,” Mr. Parrikar said recalling his experience as Defence Minister.
He said that he ould definitely take the help of defence experts while putting in place a strong and responsive disaster management mechanism.
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http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...rala-fishermen-sitharaman/article21261353.ece
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said search and rescue operations in high seas would not be stopped or diluted till all fishermen missing since Cyclone Ockhi hit Kerala shores were brought back safe.
Naval ships, helicopters, Coast Guard vessels and Air Force planes are engaged in the rescue and relief operations to track down the 100-odd missing fishermen.
Talking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to review steps taken by the Centre and the state, Ms. Sitharaman said, “Search and rescue operations will continue...There will not be any dilution of operations.”
“We want to make sure that each and every fishermen who had gone from Kerala comes back safe,” the minister, who had earlier visited Vizhinjam and Poonthura fishing hamlets, from where most of the fishermen have been reported missing, said.
Through proper channel, Kerala can send its recommendations with regard to hike in compensation to families of fishermen who had lot their kin and equipment, she said, adding she would brief the Home Minister and Agriculture Minister on the ground realities here.
“They (fishing community) are in deep distress.. I can see it,” she said.
Ms. Sitharaman said fishermen who had gone much before the cyclone warning, probably 15 days ago, had been spotted in the sea and were given food and water.
“So I will not lose hope even for a minute.. If boats that had gone 15 days ago had come back with fishermen alive, we will make every attempt to bring everybody back,” she said.
The demand of the fishermen to include some of their men in the rescue team has been accepted and already 11 of them have joined the Navy boats and helicopters, she added.
It was an emotionally charged atmosphere at the two fishing villages as women wailing and weeping for the safe return of their husbands and brothers came together to hear the minister, while the men folk raised slogans.
“I speak with folded hands...Please listen to me peacefully...The warning was given on November 29...We started search operations from November 30...The Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force began their work. Many people were saved,” she said.
“Many people have come back to their families...We have not stopped searching for them even now,” she said, adding war ships are also engaged in search operations.
In a tweet on Sunday, she had said the Navy rescued 121 fishermen from Kerala and Air Force rescued 15. While the Coast Guard saved 114 from Kerala, merchant vessels and trawlers saved 36 off the coast of Kerala and Lakshwadeep islands.
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http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...relief-for-damaged-houses/article21277056.ece
Chennai, December 06, 2017 14:41 IST
Updated: December 06, 2017 14:54 IST
A man watches a road that has been cut off due to floods following the heavy rainfall caused by the cyclone Ockhi which left heavy damage in the Kanyakumari district on Saturday. | Photo Credit: PTI
A government release said 1,687 houses had been damaged completely while 2,814 houses suffered partial damage.
Tamil Nadu on December 6 said as many as 4,501 houses in cyclone Ockhi-hit Kanyakumari have suffered partial and full damage and relief to the tune of ₹41 lakh has been provided in this regard so far.
A government release quoting Revenue Secretary B. Chandramohan said 1,687 houses had been damaged completely while 2,814 houses suffered partial damage. The assessment of the damaged houses was complete in the district, it said.
A relief of ₹5,000 each has been deposited in the bank accounts of owners of 325 houses that were damaged completely, while 1,002 houses that suffered partial damage have been provided ₹4000, totalling ₹41 lakh, the release said.
The process of verifying the bank account details of the rest of the house owners who have suffered losses was on and once it was completed, the relief amount will be deposited within two days after that, it added.
Further, assessment of the extent of damage to paddy crops, coconut trees, plantain crops, rubber plantation and spices will be taken up from today by teams comprising officials from the departments of Revenue, Agriculture and Horticulture.
These efforts were being undertaken on ‘war-footing,’ Mr. Chandramohan was quoted as saying.
Last week, Cyclone Ockhi battered Kanyakumari, severely crippling normal life, particularly affecting scores of fishermen.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited the district on December 3, reviewing the search and rescue operations of the missing fishermen by the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force.
Senior officials of the State government are also camping in the district and overseeing the relief and rehabilitation efforts.
