KOCHI: The district administration and the Disaster Management Cell are on high alert as the cyclonic storm Ockhi lashed the southern districts of the state. However, while rain is expected to continue in the district for two days, there is no need to panic. For scientists at the Advanced Centre For Atmospheric Radar Research, (ACARR), Cusat said since the cyclonic storm is moving towards the north-west, Ernakulam district might not be affected.
“Wind at a speed of 40-50 km/hr is expected to hit coastal parts of Ernakulam. Most part of the district will witness rainfall for a couple of days. Once the storm passes Lakshadweep, the situation will return to normal,” M G Manoj, professor in Cusat Atmospheric Science Department and scientist with ACARR.
“The storm is likely to move out of Lakshadweep by December 5. Only the changes in the cyclone’s movement due to circumstantial factors will impact Ernakulam,” he said.
Overcast weather prevailed across the district during the day. Rainfall began by evening and continued till night. Information from the fisheries station at Vypeen revealed wind at a speed of 40 km/hr hit coastal parts of the district. “The fishermen community was warned about the weather and wind and asked to exercise caution before venturing out into the sea. The situation was normal at the district’s coastal parts. Most boats which left various harbours returned by evening,” said an officer with the Fisheries Department.
Tourists evacuated
Starting afternoon, the police evacuated the tourists visiting various beaches. The District administration also issued an alert to the public, asking them to keep off the beaches. In Fort Kochi, local residents claimed the sea receded by several metres than normal on Thursday. “People were venturing close to the beach to see the phenomenon,” said Beerankutty, a trader at Fort Kochi.
‘No possibility of disaster’
The district administration and weather experts ruled out any possibility of a calamity. “It was a normal tide. Since the public is aware of the cyclonic storm, they are panicking about the possibility of a natural disaster,” said an officers.
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