KANYAKUMAR: Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday reviewed the search-and-rescue operations undertaken after Cyclone Ockhi, and will visit more affected areas in Tamil Nadu and Kerala on Monday, officials said.
Figures collated by the Defence Ministry on Sunday said the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Indian Air Force have so far rescued 357 persons.
After arriving in Kanyakumari and holding a review meeting with officials, the Minister visited villages in the nearby areas where she interacted with the local fishermen. She also met Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam.
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On Monday, the Defence Minister will undertake a road journey from Kanyakumari to the Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram and visit cyclone-affected areas and meet locals on the way, Ministry officials said.
Since November 30, the defence forces have rescued 71 persons, mostly fishermen, from Tamil Nadu, 250 from Kerala and around 38 from Lakshadweep and Minicoy islands, as per the Ministry figures.
Till Sunday morning, around 89 boats with 1,154 fishermen, mostly from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, have taken shelter in various ports of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Goa and Lakshwadeep, a Ministry tweet said.
The cyclone has claimed 10 lives so far while 115 people are reported missing.