Image credit : Illustrative Image

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry experienced heavy downpour following the formation of cyclonic storm ‘Ockhi’.

“The name Ockhi, given by Bangladesh, is likely to move towards Lakshadweep and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours. Southern districts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry are expected to witness heavy to very heavy downpour in the next two days”, Deputy Director-General of Meteorology Dr. S Balachandran told reporters on Thursday.

“The storm could also intensify into severe cyclone, which is expected to have a wind speed of 65-75 km per hour. The sea will be rough,” he said and warned fishermen in coastal regions not to venture into the sea for the next 48 hours.

Normal life was thrown out of gear in Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari and Tuticorin districts as heavy rains lashed the districts. Several trees were uprooted and people residing in low lying areas were evacuated to safe places. Three persons, including a woman, were killed in Kanyakumari on Thursday.

Personnel from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) from Arakkonam were rushed to Kanyakumari and other districts for rescue and relief works.

However, normal life was not affected in Chennai, which received moderate rains since Wednesday night. Air, rail and road traffic remained unaffected.