Live Updates: As cyclone Ockhi heads north, Defence Minister takes stock of damage

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday assured that Centre will extend all possible help to Tamil Nadu in relief and rehabilitation in Kanyakumari following Cyclone Ockhi.

The Tamil Nadu government had earlier said that it will seek central funds for the damage caused by the cyclone, with Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts being the worst hit.

This was conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Chief Minister K Palaniswami during a telephone conversation between the two leaders last night, a state government release said.

After her inspection of the damage in Tamil Nadu, the defence minister will now visit Thiruvananthapuram.

RM @DefenceMinIndia Smt @nsitharaman starts for Thiruvananthapuram for reviewing the ongoing rescue operations #CycloneOckhi

— DPR (@SpokespersonMoD) December 4, 2017

The death toll in Kerala meanwhile had risen to 16, a report said.

#CycloneOckhi: Death toll in rain-related incidents in #Kerala rises to 19 with recovery of six more bodies.

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) December 4, 2017