Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Dec 3: With cyclone Ockhi threatening the coastal belt of Karnataka, minister for food and civil supplies and Ullal MLA U T Khader on Sunday December 3 urged people to co-operate with the government departments in dealing with situation especially in Ullal and Someshwar.

Addressing a review meeting at the DC's office on taking preventive measures regarding Okchi cyclone and sea erosion at Ullal and Someshwar, Khader said, "We are lucky that the cyclone has subsided, and at the same time I appreciate the work of the officials during the critical condition. All the departments need to be connected, and there should be participation of the public too so that situtation can be tackled well. Even the home guards are on standby and police are deployed in sensitive areas that are prone to sea erosion. People can also call the toll free number 1077 which is available 24x7. The control room should be alert and in case of emergency the officials concerned should be informed.

"We should also put barricades at strategic points to prevent onlookers from gathering and hindering vehicular movement. We need to control the onlookers as much as we can. People should be alert till December 4 and not venture out to sea. Parents too need to be careful that their children do not go to seashores," he said.

Regarding families whose houses were damaged by the violent weather, he said, "We will identify places for the two families to stay in without any delay, and will also provide them relief. We will also provide relief to five or six families whose houses were partially damaged. Families in around 35-40 houses which are in the danger zone have been shifted from Piribail in Someshwar."

Khader said he has asked the coast guard officials to reserve four helicopters on standby, adding that the helicopters will be arriving from Goa.

The minister handed over relief cheques worth Rs 1 lac each to Alfonso and Avil Monteiro whose houses were completely damaged.

Deputy commissioner Sasikanth Senthil said, "The Okchi cyclone started from Sri Lankan coast. Three days ago we recieved warning on the cyclone after it pounded Tamil Nadu and Kerala. We started tracking through our control room and carried out annoucements and also asked the fishing board not to let boats venture into the sea. The sea was watched actively from 6 pm and immediately fire services were deployed. Families were shifted from sensitive areas.

"Waves measuring 5 to 6 meters resulted in damage of two houses and partial damage to 5 to 6 houses. So far 35 families have been shifted from the sensitive areas and there is possibility of waves subsiding in the next one or two days. People should not worry and panic. We have also asked Old Port and NMPT to open way for fishing boats which are still at sea," he added.

Coast guard official Praveen said, "Intensity of waves has not come down. The cyclone has moved towards Goa and Maharastra coast instead of passing through Gujarat and there is a possibility that it may turn back, so we need to be alert for the next two days.

Earlier in the day, Khader inspected Someshwar beach, Ullal, after ferocious waves triggered by cyclone Ockhi hit the coast.

Speaking to reporters, U T Khader said, "Temporary barriers will be constructed soon to protect the residencial area situated near the seashore. The Ockhi cyclone that has been battering coastal Kerala and south Tamil Nadu, has resulted in sea turning rough with huge waves in Ullal and Someshwar resulting damages of the houses. As per the forecast the impact of the cyclone will be lesser in the coming days. People were in panic after ferocious waves of the Arabian Sea hit parts of Ullal and Someshwar and the district administration swung into action by vacating the people."

"The waves were high at Ullal, Someshwar, Ucchil and Mogaveerapatna from 9 pm to 2 am. Nearly 80 families have been vacated from places from Ullal to Talapady. The situation at Someshwar is similar to that during the monsoon season when soil erosion takes place. Stone barriers will be put up as soon as possible," said tahsildar Guruprasad.

Deputy commissioner Sasikanth Senthil, additional DC Kumar and others were present.