NEW DELHI, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Cyclone Ockhi has killed 39 people in south Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and 167 fishermen are still missing, officials said Tuesday.
The cyclone hit the coastal districts of the two states last week.
"Ten people lost their lives in Tamil Nadu and 29 others in Kerala. Even though the exact number of missing persons were not known, as per available information, the whereabouts of 74 fishermen in Tamil Nadu and 93 fishermen in Kerala are not known yet," a senior Indian home ministry official Sanjeev Kumar Jindal told the media.
According to the official, 220 fishermen in Tamil Nadu, 390 in Kerala and 27 in Lakshadweep have been rescued so far.
Following the cyclone, authorities sent two units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and seven units of the State Force to carry out rescue work. The Indian Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard were also deployed to carry out search operations to rescue stranded fishermen.
On Tuesday, authorities sounded a high alert in western states of Gujarat and Maharashtra, forecasting Cyclone Ockhi would enter south Gujarat at midnight.
The officials predicted light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy rainfall at isolated places in Saurashtra and south Gujarat.
The Maharashtra government has ordered closure of schools and colleges in Mumbai and adjoining districts on Tuesday due to "serious weather predictions" in view of Ockhi.
