PM Modi assures assistance, says monitoring all states

New Delhi: With cyclone Ockhi inching towards Gujarat after creating havoc in parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he is constantly monitoring the situation in various states.

“Spoke to all relevant authorities and officials. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected,” he tweeted.

He also appealed to BJP workers in Gujarat to focus on helping people across the state where the cyclone is likely to make a landfall.

"Our karyakartas (workers) should devote themselves to providing all possible assistance and stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow citizens," he added further.

Meanwhile Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath called on Mr Modi and handed over a cheque of Rs 5 crore for the cyclone-affected people in Lakshadweep and other states, an official statement said.  

In an advisory, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) asked fishermen in both eastern and western coasts not to venture out in the sea for the next three days as heavy rainfall is expected in many areas due to Cyclone Ockhi.

Asking people not to panic in case of a cyclone alert, the NDMA said that fishermen along and off Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu coasts should not venture into sea from December 6 to 8 while fishermen along and off Andaman and Nicobar Islands are advised not to venture into sea till Wednesday.

Fishermen living along and off South Gujarat and North Maharashtra coasts are advised not to venture into the sea till Wednesday morning.

The severe cyclonic storm Ockhi will move over east- central Arabian sea and move further north-northeastwards with a speed of 21 kmph and lay centred over east-central Arabian sea at latitude 17.5º N and Longitude 70.4º E, about 480 km southwest of Surat and 300 km west-southwest of Mumbai.

The NDMA said light to moderate rainfall is expected at most places in Maharashtra with isolated heavy rainfall also likely over north Konkan, Palghar, Thane, Raigarh, Greater Mumbai, Dhule, Nandurbar, Nashik, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar and Pune districts.

Minor damage to loose unsecured structures and minor damage to banana trees, agriculture near coast due to salt spray is expected. Damage to ripe paddy crops and minor damage to 'kutcha' embankments are expected.

Damage is expected in south Gujarat including Valsad, Surat, Navsari, Bharuch, Dang, Tapi, Amreli, Gir-Somnath, Bhavnagar districts, Daman, Diu, and Dadra, Nagar Haveli.

Rainfall at most places with isolated heavy rainfall very likely over Andaman and Nicobar Islands during next three days.