Cyclonic winds put Coast Guard on high alert

Government officials stranded on islands facing severe cyclonic winds have already been provided medical assistance and food supplies at Kalpeni island falling under the Lakshadweep circle.

According to Coast Guard Mumbai headquarters, following an alert from the weather bureau of the depression in the south eastern Arabian sea passing over to the west of Thiruvananthapuram, aerial reconnaissance was carried out on Sunday.

Officials here said that an advance offshore patrol ship Samar was also dispatched from Kochi to the affected islands to carry out rescue operations.

At Kalpeni, 248 people, including women and children, were rescued and put up at a local school along with potable water, food and medical aid workers administering treatment to the injuries sustained by some of the islanders.

A joint team of Union Territory officials and Coast Guard personnel have been formed to look into rescue and relief operations. The Coast Guard Samar, according to latest reports, has been diverted to Amini/Valayapani Islands in Lakshadweep Circle for the operations.