Lok Sabha Question No. 125 (STARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Cyclone Ockhi
Ministry: DEFENCE
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN, SAUGATA ROY

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF DEFENCE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

## LOK  SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO.125

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  DECEMBER, 2017

## CYCLONE  OCKHI

## *125.  SHRI  N.K. PREMACHANDRAN:

PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

Will the Minister of DEFENCE j{kk ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the action taken by the Ministry in connection with rescue operations undertaken by defence forces in areas affected by Ockhi cyclone along with the number of  fishermen  rescued  and  the  number  of  fishermen  missing  as  per  the  information  of defence  department, State-wise;
- (b) the  action  taken  by  the  Ministry  to  find  out  the  missing  fishermen  and  to  give warning  to  the  fishermen  directly  through  the  defence  department  with  the  support  of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO);
- (c) the mechanism followed by the defence department in co-operation with the State Governments so as to speed up the disaster management; and
- (d) whether  the  Ministry  proposes  to  introduce  a  better  mechanism  for  permanent disaster management system with the co-ordination of all the concerned departments of Central Government and State Governments and if so, the details thereof?

## A    N    S    W    E    R

MINISTER OF DEFENCE                                    (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)

j{kk ea=h

¼Jherh  fueZyk lhrkje.k )

(a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF  LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 125 FOR ANSWER ON 27.12.2017

Cyclone 'Ockhi' hit south of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and L&M (Lakshadweep  &  Minicoy)  Islands  on  30 th November  2017.    Search  and Rescue (SAR) operations by Indian Navy (IN) and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) commenced  immediately  and  all  assets  (ships,  aircrafts, helicopters) available with them were put into SAR operations.  IN, ICG, Indian Air Force (IAF), Coastal Police and other agencies acted in coordination to develop synergy in SAR efforts.

Earlier,  based  on  the  inputs received from  India  Meteorological Department  (IMD),  advisories  were  issued  to  Civil  Administration  and Fisheries  Authorities  of  Tamil  Nadu,  Kerala  and  Lakshadweep  to  take necessary  precautions  and  avoid  fishing  due  to  adverse  sea  conditions. ICG  /  IN  units  at  sea  also  warned  the  fishing  boats  about  the  likely deterioration  of  weather  and  advised  them  to  return  to  harbour  or  take shelter.  Further advisories were also issued to Merchant Vessels through the  International  Safety  Net  on  01,  02,  03  and  05 th December  2017  for rendering  assistance  to  stranded  fishing  boats  or  distressed  fishermen while transiting through the cyclone area. The Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN) was used to maintain communication with all the  SAR Units operating  close  to  coast  for  better  SAR  coordination.    Also,  continuous communication  was  maintained  with  the  local  fishing  associations  and inputs received from them were factored in the SAR plans.  The  IN / ICG has been in continuous liaison with the State Government of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the  L&M Islands  for  conduct  of  SAR  operations.    Control  and Coordination Centre at Joint Operations Centre (JOC) Kochi, with participation from all stakeholders coordinated with District Administrations of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the L&M Islands.

……2/-

:  2  :

In  the  rescue  operations  carried  out  by    IN,  ICG  and  IAF,  as  on 20.12.2017,    a    total  number  of  821  lives  have  been  saved  /  rescued.    In addition, 24 lives have been saved / rescued by other Agencies (Merchant Vessels, Trawler, etc.).  The details of State-wise lives saved / rescued are as under:-

| State / UT                  |   No. of Lives Saved / Rescued |
|-----------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Tamil Nadu                  |                            453 |
| Kerala                      |                            362 |
| Lakshadweep & Minicoy (L&M) |                             30 |
| Total:                      |                            845 |

The  Fisheries  Department  of  the  concerned  State  Government  are responsible for providing information of missing fishermen.  However, as per the details available with Government of India, the State-wise details of missing fishermen as on 15.12.2017 are as under:-

| State / UT                  |   No. of Missing Fishermen |
|-----------------------------|----------------------------|
| Tamil Nadu                  |                        400 |
| Kerala                      |                        261 |
| Lakshadweep & Minicoy (L&M) |                         00 |
| Total:                      |                        661 |

National Disaster Management Authority being the apex body in the Government  has formulated  a  National  Disaster  Management  Plan  under which  efforts  of  the  State  Government  are  supplemented  by  providing logistic  and  financial  support  in  cases  of  natural  calamities  of  severe nature.

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