PM, Home Minister Rajnath Singh assure all assistance for Ockhi-hit TN

Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured Tamil Nadu the Centre's full assistance for the damage caused by the cyclone Ockhi that ravaged southern coastal districts, particularly Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh also promised help to the Tamil Nadu government in the search operations to trace the Kanyakumari district fishermen, who have gone missing during the cyclone.

Chief Minister Edapaddi K. Palaniswami who apprised him of the numerous relief works apace in seven districts of the state, informed "Prime Minister has assured to immediately give the required assistance". He said the state government would soon seek central funds for the damage caused by Ockhi in the southern parts of the state. He conveyed this to the Prime Minister during a telephonic conversation he had with Mr Modi on Friday night.

According to an official release here, the CM apprised him of the various relief works going on in "full swing" in seven districts of the state and told the PM that Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli were the worst affected.

He listed out various steps being taken, besides deputing senior Ministers and officials to oversee the relief work. Efforts were being taken on "war footing." The Coast Guard's help was being used to rescue 30 fishermen stranded in the sea even as 76 of them had been already rescued, Mr Palaniswami said. TN would send a report to the Centre seeking funds after carrying out a detailed assessment of the damage caused by the cyclone, he told the Prime Minister.

Known as 'eye' in Bengali, Cyclone Ockhi on Friday intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and moved to the Arabian Sea. The state government said that over 1,200 people affected by the cyclone in Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts have been lodged in relief camps.

Mr Rajnath Singh who spoke to Mr Palaniswami, enquired about the damage caused by the cyclone. He was told that a majority of the fishermen, who had ventured into the sea and were missing, had been safely rescued, thanks to the coordinated efforts of the fisheries department and the Coast Guard. 

The Chief Minister informed Mr Singh that several fishermen were still missing and urged him to ensure that the Coast Guard and Navy continue to assist the State government in tracing them, besides he sought the deployment of Coast Guard and Navy helicopters in the search operations.

The Union Home Minister, who gave a patient hearing, promised all help on behalf of the Centre in tracing the missing fishermen, an official release here said.