WATCH: Helicopter Saves Life Of Those Hit By Ockhi Cyclone

Cyclonic storm Ockhi which had hit the southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Thursday, caused widespread destruction in the southern districts of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam.

Image: Screen grab/Spokesperson Navy-Twitter

New Delhi: The death toll in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala because of Ockhi cyclone has rose to 12. The natural disaster has created havoc in both the states. Two fishermen died while 214 others were safely evacuated in rescue operations jointly launched by the Indian Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard in the seas as heavy rains lashed the area under the influence of Cyclone Ockhi. A report from Thiruvanathapuram said as many as 218 fishermen from Kerala, stranded in the sea off the coast due to inclement weather conditions,were brought safely to the shore even as the death toll rose to seven in the state.

#HADR #CycloneOckhi #SAR continues off Kerala Coast. IN ac P8i, DO, ALH, Seaking 42B&C in area since dawn. Ships from SNC and ICG in area. Western Fleet ships INS Chennai, Kolkata & Trikand have augmented SAR as well. INS Shardul heading 2 Minicoy for assistance 1/n @nsitharaman pic.twitter.com/PQGMShIn20

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) December 2, 2017

The Coast Guard has deployed two ships - Vaibhav and Aadesh - besides a Dornier aircraft for search and rescue operations in the sea off Kanyakumari. Tamil Nadu Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management R B Udhaya Kumar, deputed to Kanyakumari to monitor relief work, said steps have been taken to drain water from inundated areas. To expedite relief works in the worst hit Kanyakumari, two teams of National Disaster Response Force and seven teams of state disaster response agency have been deputed. In Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts, heavy rains and gusty winds uprooted 579 trees, it said, adding, efforts are on to remove them. Cyclonic storm Ockhi had hit the southern districts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu on Thursday, and caused widespread destruction in the southern districts of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam.