Cyclone Ockhi: Modi on one-day tour to Kerala, TN, Lakshadweep
What's the story
PM Narendra Modi is on a one-day tour to Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep today to review the damage caused by Cyclone Ockhi and status of relief operations.
Modi flew from Mangaluru to Kavaratti via Agatti, then to Thiruvananthapuram via Agatti, and finally to Kanyakumari on a chopper.
Earlier, Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi wrote to Modi seeking a special package for the victims.
Plans
PM to meet affected fishermen, hold meeting with officials
On his tour, Modi would interact with affected fishermen and visit Poonthura, from where some of the deceased fishermen hailed.
He would later meet Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and others including Fisheries minister J Mercykutty at the Raj Bhawan, then leave for Delhi.
Earlier, Kerala had sought Rs. 1,843cr from the Center for relief. It also wanted it to be classified a national disaster.
Twitter Post
'We stand shoulder to shoulder with those affected'
Since #CycloneOckhi struck, Centre has been monitoring the situation round the clock and ensuring proper rescue and relief operations. We have been working closely with the Governments of the affected states. We stand shoulder to shoulder with all those affected by the cyclone.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 18, 2017
Anger
Angry locals allege lack of warning, inefficient rescue operations
Meanwhile, even as the official death toll reached 70 and search was extended to Goan shores, locals in Poonthura, Vizhinjam and Adimalathura seethed with rage at the authorities.
They allege the state government neither warned them on time nor did it start rescue operations immediately.
More than 100 people are still missing in the aftermath of Ockhi that hit Kerala on November 29-30.