After Ockhi disaster, Kerala government on high alert as depression in Arabian Sea deepens

Fishermen, especially in South Kerala, have been warned not to venture into the seas for the next two days as the depression to the south of Kanyakumari has deepened.

The depression deepened around 8:30 am on Tuesday and the State Disaster Management Committee along with the government issued a warning to fishermen along the coast.

Warning that waves would be around 3 mts high and wind speeds would be anywhere from 40-60 kmph in the next 48 hours, the Indian Meterological Department said that it is not safe for fishermen to be out in the seas.

“We have passed on the information that the depression has deepened today morning to the authorities. It is of 5 degrees’ latitude and 76 degrees’ longitude. It will die down after 15th of March after which the fishermen can resume fishing,” said director of the Indian Meteorological Department S Sudevan.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Monday, ordered the state administration to ensure that fishers to not go to the seas until it is declared safe. He has sought the Navy coast guard’s help to ensure the safety of the fisherfolk.

“The government has asked the chief secretary to evaluate the present status of the depression. We have been informed that the depression has deepened and it is now 390 km south-southeast of Thiruvananthapuram coast”, read CM’s Facebook post.

The Chief Minister also called for a top level meeting to be attended by authorities such as chief secretary Paul Antony, state police chief Lokanath Behera, fisheries principal secretary B Sreenivas, Met director S Sudevan and other officials. 

As a result of the depression, the IMD also predicted that heavy rains will be seen across the State for the next three days.

“While the south of Kerala will see heavy rainfall in the immediate 48 hours, North Kerala will experience rain on after 48 hours”, said Sudevan. 

According to weather bloggers, this is the first depression over Arabian sea during the month of March in over 125 years. The depression comes barely months after Cyclone Ocki battered the coasts of Kerala in November 2017.

However, the government along the the State Disaster Management Committee have issued early warnings and are taking measures to safeguard the coastal areas this time.