Cyclone Ockhi: Relief camps set up; minister visits refugees in Thiruvananthapuram
The district administration on Friday opened relief camps, mostly in schools, in each village as the magnitude of the damage caused by cyclone Ockhi increased.
Published: 02nd December 2017 02:19 AM | Last Updated: 02nd December 2017 11:21 AM | A+A A-
Stranded fishermen rescued by naval and air force helicopters from the Ockhi cyclone hit rough seas being rushed to the ambulance from the technical area of Thiruvananthpuram airport on Friday afternoon |kaviyoor santhosh
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The district administration on Friday opened relief camps, mostly in schools, in each village as the magnitude of the damage caused by cyclone Ockhi increased. Over 200 people took shelter at St Thomas HSS in Poonthura and Government HSS, Vizhinjam.
Meanwhile, minister in-charge of the district Kadakampally Surendran led the rescue operation. Fisheries Minister J Mercykutty Amma visited the coastal areas and advised fishermen not to venture into the sea for the next seven days.
“The sea may appear calm at the shore, but will be rough as you go deeper due to the cyclone. The government has taken steps to look after the fishermen during this period,” Mercykutty said. A control room was set up at the collectorate to coordinate the relief activities.
District Collector K Vasuki also coordinated with the Coast Guard which conducted the rescue operations for the missing fishermen. She visited the coastal pockets where people have been disturbed by the news of fishermen stranded in sea and pacified them.
Sub-Collector Divya S Iyer oversaw relief activities at Vazhamuttom, Menamkulam, Kazhakuttam, Valiyathura, Vettukad, Veli, Kochu Veli, etc. People injured in the cyclone were admitted to the General Hospital and Medical College.
“Adequate facilities have been provided at the hospitals and at the relief camps. A special team is stationed at the hospital to tend to the injured,” Divya said.
At the camps
People staying at the camps are were being given food. Complaints raised regarding the food supplied were addressed. A medical team also visited the camps to check the health of people lodged there.
Offices opened
“Owing to the continuous rain, all taluk, village and panchayat offices in the district will function on Saturday and Sunday for dealing with emergency situation,” District Collector K Vasuki said. The officers concerned, including tahsildars, land revenue tahsildars, revenue recovery tahsildars and tahsildars in special units have been asked to be in their respective offices on the weekend, she said.
