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Over 500 fishermen rescued as Cyclone ‘Ochki’ continues wreaking havoc

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8 years ago

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Cyclone Fishermen

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Death toll has risen to nine, cyclone may intensify further, say officials

With the cyclone ‘Ochki’ already having created havoc in the coastal areas of Kerala and over the South East Arabian Sea – about 250 km near Amini Divi in the Lakshadweep Islands, the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard have reportedly rescued 500 fishermen – who were stranded in the rough sea off Kerala and Lakshadweep coasts.

While officials stated that the cyclone might intensify further, the death toll has risen to nine and no estimate of the number of missing fishermen has appeared as yet. Reportedly, the Coast Guard has also rescued 198 fishermen and 18 fishing boats off the Western Coast of Tamil Nadu. The fishermen and the boats have been sheltered in the Lakshadweep and Minicoy Group of Islands.

And as the cyclone triggered a situation of panic among the families of the missing fishermen, the Kerala government has announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the next kin of those who are already reported as dead. Furthermore the government has set up 29 relief camps.

Seeking the central government’s help in the matter, Kerala Chief Minister  Pinarayi Vijayan has also urged the Centre to declare the Cyclone as a national calamity. With ‘Ochki’ also leaving trails of destruction in parts of South Tamil Nadu, the state government said it will be seeking funds from the centre to compensate the damages.

Reportedly TN Chief Minister K Palaniswamy has spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought Centre’s  intervention in the matter. He also discussed the situation with Home Minister Rajnath Singh. According to him Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli had suffered the most.

According to meteorological department officials, “Strong winds with speed touching 100-110 kmph and 45-55 kmph are likely to batter the Lakshadweep and Kerala coasts respectively on Sunday under the influence of cyclonic storm ‘Ockhi’.

With the cyclone intensifying by the days, the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard stepped up its efforts to rescue the stranded fishermen – continuing their search operations using ships, Dornier aircraft and helicopters in the sea off Kerala and Lakshadweep.

INS Jamuna and INS Sagardhwani of the Indian Navy are continuing search and rescue operations in their designated areas along the coast off Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. Moreover, two ships INS Shardul and INS Sharda are heading towards Lakshadweep, a defence spokesman said on Saturday.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant among 32 inducted in Bihar cabinet expansion

Nishant Kumar entered the Bihar cabinet for the first time as 32 ministers from NDA allies took oath in a major expansion of the state government.

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3 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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Bihar government cabinet

A major cabinet expansion took place in Bihar on Thursday, with 32 leaders from the ruling NDA alliance inducted into the state government. Among the prominent names was Nishant Kumar, son of former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, who entered the cabinet for the first time.

The expansion included representatives from all major NDA allies in the state. According to reports, the BJP secured 15 ministerial berths, while JD(U) got 13 positions. Two ministers were inducted from Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), while Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha received one berth each.

The oath-taking ceremony was held in Patna in the presence of senior NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Nishant Kumar’s induction comes weeks after he formally entered active politics. His entry into the Bihar cabinet is being viewed as a significant development for JD(U), which had long projected an anti-dynasty image under Nitish Kumar’s leadership.

The cabinet reshuffle follows Nitish Kumar’s move to the Rajya Sabha earlier this year and the formation of the government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

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PM Modi marks Operation Sindoor anniversary, calls it India’s firm stand against terrorism

PM Modi said Operation Sindoor showcased India’s firm response against terrorism while paying tribute to the armed forces on the operation’s first anniversary.

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8 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said Operation Sindoor demonstrated India’s firm response against terrorism and highlighted the country’s commitment to national security.

Marking one year of the operation, the Prime Minister praised the courage, precision and professionalism of the Indian armed forces. He said the military action was carried out in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that had claimed the lives of 26 civilians in 2025.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7, 2025, as a calibrated tri-services operation targeting terror infrastructure linked to cross-border terrorism. Reports said the operation showcased coordinated action by the armed forces and was seen as a major counter-terror response by India.

On the anniversary of the operation, PM Modi also changed the display pictures across his social media platforms, including X, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The image carried the text “Operation Sindoor” along with the Indian tricolour design.

The Indian Air Force also shared visuals and messages recalling the operation and highlighting India’s military response. A video released by the force described the operation as a strong message against terrorism and referred to the precision strikes carried out during the mission.

Operation Sindoor was launched following the Pahalgam terror attack, after which India carried out strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to official statements and reports published at the time.

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Vijay meets Tamil Nadu Governor again as TVK pushes to prove majority

TVK chief Vijay held another meeting with Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar as the party intensified efforts to secure majority support after emerging as the single-largest party in the Assembly elections.

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8 hours ago

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May 7, 2026

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Actor vijay

Actor-turned-politician Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar again on Thursday as his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), continued efforts to prove it has enough support to form the next government in the state.

TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly after winning 108 seats, but it remains short of the majority mark of 118.

The Congress has extended support to TVK, adding five MLAs to Vijay’s side. However, the alliance still needs additional backing from other parties or independents to comfortably cross the halfway mark.

According to reports, the Governor has not yet been fully convinced that TVK currently has the required numbers to form a stable government. This has delayed clarity over the swearing-in ceremony and the formal invitation to form the government.

Political activity intensified after reports emerged that some AIADMK legislators were moved to a resort in Puducherry amid speculation over possible support to TVK. AIADMK leaders, however, publicly denied any internal crisis.

TVK sources have expressed confidence that the party will be able to demonstrate majority support during discussions with the Governor.

The Tamil Nadu election results marked a major political shift in the state, with TVK breaking the long-standing dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in its first Assembly election contest.

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