In 1945, Japan renounced war and became a pacifist state. 75 years later, it is shifting away from pacifism. Japan is adopting what looks like a strike-first policy. What does it mean?&nbsp;

Japan's Coast Guard can fire missiles if a foreign vessel intrudes into the Senkaku islands. That's what Tokyo has announced.

What are the Senkaku islands? A disputed turf between Japan and China in the East China Sea.&nbsp;

Now, Japan will strike first to protect this turf. Pacifism is part of the Japanese Constitution and the government hasn't changed the Constitution. &nbsp;

It has just found a way around it. Japan has changed the way one law is interpreted. And the result is that the Japanese Coast Guard can strike first. Technically, Japan doesn't have an army but it maintains a self-defence force that has vowed never to use force first.&nbsp;

It's one of the most powerful forces in the world and now, it has signalled an intent to abandon pacifism as the neighbourhood is becoming unsafe thanks to one neighbour.&nbsp;

China is aggressively staking claims in the Indo-Pacific. Last year, Chinese Coast Guard vessels entered Japanese waters twice a month. Then, China enacted a new law. It allows the Chinese Coast Guard to use weapons against foreign ships. So, Japan's measure is essentially a tit-for-tat.&nbsp;

Here is why it was necessary. China is deploying vessels with lethal firepower around Japan. Hundreds of Chinese vessels entered the waters around the Senkaku islands last year.&nbsp;

Reports say Chinese vessels were spotted there for a record 333 days. For 111 days, these Chinese vessels maintained a continuous presence. So, Japan has now told its coast guard. It is free to shoot at foreign vessels and it is also getting more firepower. &nbsp;&nbsp;

This year, the Japanese military budget is expected to be around 51 billion. It has grown for nine years straight.&nbsp;

In 2020, the Japanese military performed 25 missions in defence of US ships or planes. This shows the growing defence integration between the US and Japan. These missions were in addition to the Malabar exercise hosted by India in November 2020.&nbsp;

Here Japan participated alongside the United States and Australia. These four countries make up the Quad alliance. They are steadily expanding their partnership. The Japanese prime minister spoke with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Thursday. They discussed Chinese military aggression as well as the need for an open and free Indo Pacific.&nbsp;

Reports say Japan and Australia are now working on a mutual defence treaty. This week, France, Australia and India held a trilateral of their own. Senior officials attended this meeting. They are said to have discussed ways to expand their cooperation in the Indo Pacific.&nbsp;

It seems like doors are being opened for more allies to work with the Quad. Earlier this week, US secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke to his counterpart in Bangladesh AK Abdul Momen.&nbsp;

According to a statement from Washington, Blinken and Momen would like a closer collaboration to 'address challenges in South Asia and the greater Indo-Pacific region'.&nbsp;

China understands the language of strength. How India responded to the Chinese border aggression is the proof of that. Japan is deploying the same playbook. Its wants to take on the Chinese threat from a position of strength with military power and Tokyo can bank on its Quad allies and partners for support on this front.&nbsp;

In 1945, Japan renounced war and became a pacifist state. 75 years later, it is shifting away from pacifism. Japan is adopting what looks like a strike-first policy.

In 1945, Japan renounced war and became a pacifist state. 75 years later, it is shifting away from pacifism. Japan is adopting what looks like a strike-first policy. What does it mean? Japan's Coast Guard can fire missiles if a foreign vessel intrudes into the Senkaku islands. That's what Tokyo has announced. What are the Senkaku islands? A disputed turf between Japan and China in the East China Sea. Now, Japan will strike first to protect this turf. Pacifism is part of the Japanese Constitution and the government hasn't changed the Constitution. It has just found a way around it. Japan has changed the way one law is interpreted. And the result is that the Japanese Coast Guard can strike first. Technically, Japan doesn't have an army but it maintains a self-defence force that has vowed never to use force first. It's one of the most powerful forces in the world and now, it has signalled an intent to abandon pacifism as the neighbourhood is becoming unsafe thanks to one neighbour. China is aggressively staking claims in the Indo-Pacific. Last year, Chinese Coast Guard vessels entered Japanese waters twice a month. Then, China enacted a new law. It allows the Chinese Coast Guard to use weapons against foreign ships. So, Japan's measure is essentially a tit-for-tat. Here is why it was necessary. China is deploying vessels with lethal firepower around Japan. Hundreds of Chinese vessels entered the waters around the Senkaku islands last year. Reports say Chinese vessels were spotted there for a record 333 days. For 111 days, these Chinese vessels maintained a continuous presence. So, Japan has now told its coast guard. It is free to shoot at foreign vessels and it is also getting more firepower. This year, the Japanese military budget is expected to be around 51 billion. It has grown for nine years straight. In 2020, the Japanese military performed 25 missions in defence of US ships or planes. This shows the growing defence integration between the US and Japan. These missions were in addition to the Malabar exercise hosted by India in November 2020. Here Japan participated alongside the United States and Australia. These four countries make up the Quad alliance. They are steadily expanding their partnership. The Japanese prime minister spoke with his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison on Thursday. They discussed Chinese military aggression as well as the need for an open and free Indo Pacific. Reports say Japan and Australia are now working on a mutual defence treaty. This week, France, Australia and India held a trilateral of their own. Senior officials attended this meeting. They are said to have discussed ways to expand their cooperation in the Indo Pacific. It seems like doors are being opened for more allies to work with the Quad. Earlier this week, US secretary of state Antony Blinken spoke to his counterpart in Bangladesh AK Abdul Momen. According to a statement from Washington, Blinken and Momen would like a closer collaboration to 'address challenges in South Asia and the greater Indo-Pacific region'. China understands the language of strength. How India responded to the Chinese border aggression is the proof of that. Japan is deploying the same playbook. Its wants to take on the Chinese threat from a position of strength with military power and Tokyo can bank on its Quad allies and partners for support on this front.

Japan adopts strike-first policy to counter Chinese aggression 

In a week, Libya has rescued more than 1,500 would-be migrants off its west coast, a non-governmental organisation said.&nbsp;

"The Libyan coastguard has conducted several rescue operations from a week ago until (Wednesday) and rescued about 1,500 people," Adel al-Idrissi from the International Rescue Committee said.&nbsp;

On Wednesday alone, 240 African migrants were rescued from two boats off the port city of Al-Khums, said Lieutenant-Colonel Mohammed Abdel Aali of the coastguard.&nbsp;

"We encountered difficulties in getting the (migrants from the first boat) on board, but the second group showed less opposition," he said.&nbsp;

Migrants intercepted off the Libyan coast object to being returned to the country, preferring to wait for humanitarian rescue ships.&nbsp;

Despite unabated violence in Libya since the fall of Moamer Kadhafi's regime in 2011, the country remains an important transit point for migrants fleeing instability in other parts of Africa and the Middle East and seeking to reach Europe.&nbsp;

International agencies frequently denounce the return to Libya of migrants intercepted at sea due to the chaotic situation in the country and poor conditions in detention centres.&nbsp;

Veronica Alfonsi, a spokeswoman for the Spanish aid ship Open Arms, confirmed on Wednesday that around 200 people had been returned to Libya.&nbsp;

"Men, women and children taken back to Libya against their will," the charity's founder Oscar Camps said on Twitter.&nbsp;

More than 1,200 migrants and asylum-seekers died while crossing the Mediterranean in 2020, according to the International Organization for Migration.

In a week, Libya has rescued more than 1,500 would-be migrants off its west coast, a non-governmental organisation said. "The Libyan coastguard has conducted several rescue operations from a week ago until (Wednesday) and rescued about 1,500 people," Adel al-Idrissi from the International Rescue Committee said.

In a week, Libya has rescued more than 1,500 would-be migrants off its west coast, a non-governmental organisation said. "The Libyan coastguard has conducted several rescue operations from a week ago until (Wednesday) and rescued about 1,500 people," Adel al-Idrissi from the International Rescue Committee said. On Wednesday alone, 240 African migrants were rescued from two boats off the port city of Al-Khums, said Lieutenant-Colonel Mohammed Abdel Aali of the coastguard. "We encountered difficulties in getting the (migrants from the first boat) on board, but the second group showed less opposition," he said. Migrants intercepted off the Libyan coast object to being returned to the country, preferring to wait for humanitarian rescue ships. Despite unabated violence in Libya since the fall of Moamer Kadhafi's regime in 2011, the country remains an important transit point for migrants fleeing instability in other parts of Africa and the Middle East and seeking to reach Europe. International agencies frequently denounce the return to Libya of migrants intercepted at sea due to the chaotic situation in the country and poor conditions in detention centres. Veronica Alfonsi, a spokeswoman for the Spanish aid ship Open Arms, confirmed on Wednesday that around 200 people had been returned to Libya. "Men, women and children taken back to Libya against their will," the charity's founder Oscar Camps said on Twitter. More than 1,200 migrants and asylum-seekers died while crossing the Mediterranean in 2020, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Over 1,500 migrants ‘rescued’ off Libya coast in week

Container ship X-Press Godavari is being escorted to the Kolkata port by an Indian Coast Guard vessel. This comes after an overnight firefighting effort, to douse a flame on a container that the ship was carrying.&nbsp;

The fire was first reported on Monday morning, following which the Indian Coast Guard had despatched assets to the location. The container ship X-Press Godavari was in anchorage off Sandheads, which is over a 100kms away from the Haldia port in West Bengal. Initially three Coast Guard vessels had reached the spot and carried out firefighting operations, while a Dornier aircraft was assessing the situation.&nbsp;

By Monday evening, a fourth Coast Guard vessel had joined the action and had successfully doused the blaze. Later, they undertook boundary cooling operations to prevent re-ignition. Boundary cooling is carried out to lower the temperature in the areas around the fire, as metal gets heated up quickly and could always have the potential to re-ignite owing to the retained heat (even in absence of a visible fire).&nbsp;

After carrying out boundary cooling operations through the night, the vessel is being escorted to Kolkata port, by an Indian Coast Guard ship.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, the Indian Coast Guard had taken up a daunting firefighting task, off the Sri Lanka Coast. In a mammoth effort that lasted nearly 10 days, Indian Coast Guard ships had doused the fire, and also ensured that there was no oil leak and environmental damage, from the mishap on very large crude carrier MT New Diamond.

Container ship X-Press Godavari is being escorted to the Kolkata port by an Indian Coast Guard vessel. This comes after an overnight firefighting effort, to douse a flame on a container that the ship was carrying.

Container ship X-Press Godavari is being escorted to the Kolkata port by an Indian Coast Guard vessel. This comes after an overnight firefighting effort, to douse a flame on a container that the ship was carrying. The fire was first reported on Monday morning, following which the Indian Coast Guard had despatched assets to the location. The container ship X-Press Godavari was in anchorage off Sandheads, which is over a 100kms away from the Haldia port in West Bengal. Initially three Coast Guard vessels had reached the spot and carried out firefighting operations, while a Dornier aircraft was assessing the situation. By Monday evening, a fourth Coast Guard vessel had joined the action and had successfully doused the blaze. Later, they undertook boundary cooling operations to prevent re-ignition. Boundary cooling is carried out to lower the temperature in the areas around the fire, as metal gets heated up quickly and could always have the potential to re-ignite owing to the retained heat (even in absence of a visible fire). After carrying out boundary cooling operations through the night, the vessel is being escorted to Kolkata port, by an Indian Coast Guard ship. Earlier this month, the Indian Coast Guard had taken up a daunting firefighting task, off the Sri Lanka Coast. In a mammoth effort that lasted nearly 10 days, Indian Coast Guard ships had doused the fire, and also ensured that there was no oil leak and environmental damage, from the mishap on very large crude carrier MT New Diamond.

Coast Guard vessels douse fire on container ship X-Press Godavari, ship being escorted to Kolkata

In a coordinated mission that involved air and sea-based assets, the Indian Coast Guard apprehended a fishing boat that was attempting to smuggle sea cucumber, an endangered species, into Sri Lanka.

The apprehended fishing boat was carrying 1 ton of sea cucumbers, which are valued at about $683,000&nbsp;USD. The fishing boat along with three crew members have been brought to Tuticorin for further investigation.&nbsp;

The interception of the boat had taken place on Saturday noon and the boat was just about 3.5 miles from the International Maritime Boundary line. The boat was intercepted off the Mandapam coast. The north western tip of the Sri Lanka is easily accessible(in terms of distance) from the areas surrounding Mandapam town in Tamil Nadu. Some parts on the north-western tip of Sri Lanka are less than 100kms or 54 nautical miles away, from certain points on the Tamil Nadu coast.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tunnel-under-ib-was-constructed-with-knowledge-hand-of-pak-bsf-ig-323977">Aslo read|&nbsp;Tunnel under IB was constructed with knowledge, 'hand' of Pak: BSF IG</a>

Sea cucumbers are an important constituent of the coral ecosystem and are categorized as an ‘endangered species’ with their harvest being banned under the Wildlife Protection Act of 2001. They play an important role in maintaining the health of the marine ecosystems. By excreting inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus, they enhance the productivity of benthic animals - those living on the ocean floor.&nbsp;

One of the by-products of the sea cucumber's digestion of sand is calcium carbonate, a key component of coral reefs. To survive, coral reefs must accumulate calcium carbonate, and thus sea cucumbers play a vital role in their preservation.

Sea cucumbers also maintain the transparency of seawater by eating sewage. Feeding and excretion by sea cucumbers also increases alkalinity, which counteracts ocean acidification. Illegal harvesting and overexploitation of these animals leads to poorer sediment health, reduces nutrient recycling and impacts biodiversity.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-withdraws-from-russian-exercises-over-chinese-presence-323948">Also read|&nbsp;India withdraws from Russian exercises over Chinese presence</a>

Much of the sea cucumbers smuggled out of Tamil Nadu are said to be for Sri Lanka and other South-East Asian countries, where they are consumed as food and used to prepare medicines.&nbsp;

In terms of the Coast guard’s areas of responsibility, their aircraft and vessels monitor and secure the 7516km long coastline and India’s Exclusive Economic Zone that is over 2million sq km. The Indian Coast Guard currently operates over 150 surface platforms and more than 60 aircraft. The force deploys 30-40 ships and 10-12 aircraft for surveillance, on a daily basis.

In a coordinated mission that involved air and sea-based assets, the Indian Coast Guard apprehended a fishing boat that was attempting to smuggle sea cucumber, an endangered species, into Sri Lanka.

In a coordinated mission that involved air and sea-based assets, the Indian Coast Guard apprehended a fishing boat that was attempting to smuggle sea cucumber, an endangered species, into Sri Lanka. The apprehended fishing boat was carrying 1 ton of sea cucumbers, which are valued at about $683,000 USD. The fishing boat along with three crew members have been brought to Tuticorin for further investigation. The interception of the boat had taken place on Saturday noon and the boat was just about 3.5 miles from the International Maritime Boundary line. The boat was intercepted off the Mandapam coast. The north western tip of the Sri Lanka is easily accessible(in terms of distance) from the areas surrounding Mandapam town in Tamil Nadu. Some parts on the north-western tip of Sri Lanka are less than 100kms or 54 nautical miles away, from certain points on the Tamil Nadu coast. Aslo read| Tunnel under IB was constructed with knowledge, 'hand' of Pak: BSF IG Sea cucumbers are an important constituent of the coral ecosystem and are categorized as an ‘endangered species’ with their harvest being banned under the Wildlife Protection Act of 2001. They play an important role in maintaining the health of the marine ecosystems. By excreting inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus, they enhance the productivity of benthic animals - those living on the ocean floor. One of the by-products of the sea cucumber's digestion of sand is calcium carbonate, a key component of coral reefs. To survive, coral reefs must accumulate calcium carbonate, and thus sea cucumbers play a vital role in their preservation. Sea cucumbers also maintain the transparency of seawater by eating sewage. Feeding and excretion by sea cucumbers also increases alkalinity, which counteracts ocean acidification. Illegal harvesting and overexploitation of these animals leads to poorer sediment health, reduces nutrient recycling and impacts biodiversity. Also read| India withdraws from Russian exercises over Chinese presence Much of the sea cucumbers smuggled out of Tamil Nadu are said to be for Sri Lanka and other South-East Asian countries, where they are consumed as food and used to prepare medicines. In terms of the Coast guard’s areas of responsibility, their aircraft and vessels monitor and secure the 7516km long coastline and India’s Exclusive Economic Zone that is over 2million sq km. The Indian Coast Guard currently operates over 150 surface platforms and more than 60 aircraft. The force deploys 30-40 ships and 10-12 aircraft for surveillance, on a daily basis.

Indian coast guard thwarts smuggling of sea cucumber into Sri Lanka

The Indian Coast Guard has commissioned Interceptor boat C-449, a 27.80 meters long vessel with a displacement of 105 tons. The induction of this ship is a part of ongoing efforts of the Coast Guard to strengthen Maritime &amp; Coastal Security along the Coasts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh. The ship will not only strengthen the security umbrella of the East Coast but also help augment patrolling to prevent illicit activities at sea.

K Shanmugam, Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu commissioned the vessel in the presence of minimal dignitaries while following all protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The vessel C-449 is Forty-Ninth amongst the Fifty Four in its series being indigenously designed and built by M/s Larsen and Toubro Ltd, Hazira (Surat). &nbsp;This commissioning ceremony is said to be first in-person (as opposed to virtual) Coast Guard ceremony since the outbreak of COVID-19.&nbsp;

<img alt="n " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a94e2c6-fabb-4802-bcb0-be500ba4c436" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%288%29_35.jpg" />

With its top speed of 45knots (85kmph) and advanced navigation &amp; communication equipment, coupled with modern systems, the vessel is undertaking multifarious tasks including Surveillance, Interdiction, Search and Rescue, in addition to assisting boats and crafts in distress at sea.

“In the East Region, C-449 will be the 10th vessel in the Interceptor boat category. Currently we have eight Offshore Patrol Vessels(OPV) and 15 fast patrol vessels, besides 5 Dornier aircraft and 3 Chetak helicopters. At the pan-India level, the Coast Guard has about five interceptor boats and seven OPVs in the pipeline” S. Paramesh, Inspector General, Coast Guard East Region told WION.&nbsp;

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The ship is commanded by Assistant Commandant Ashish Sharma and will be based at Krishnapatnam under the administrative and operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 6, Visakhapatnam.&nbsp;

The Indian Coast Guard currently operates over 150 surface platforms and more than 60 aircraft.&nbsp;

K Natarajan, Director General, Indian Coast Guard had earlier said: “Our Coast Guard stands larger than many navies in the world and we further plan to boost our assets to 200 vessels and 100 aircraft by 2025. We also have bilateral and multilateral agreements with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives etc. Daily we deploy 30-40 ships and 10-12 aircraft for surveillance and in the last decade we have saved over 10,000 lives, in over 3100 missions against the fury of nature.”

The Indian Coast Guard has commissioned Interceptor boat C-449, a 27.80 meters long vessel with a displacement of 105 tons. The induction of this ship is a part of ongoing efforts of the Coast Guard to strengthen Maritime & Coastal Security along the Coasts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh.

The Indian Coast Guard has commissioned Interceptor boat C-449, a 27.80 meters long vessel with a displacement of 105 tons. The induction of this ship is a part of ongoing efforts of the Coast Guard to strengthen Maritime & Coastal Security along the Coasts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh. The ship will not only strengthen the security umbrella of the East Coast but also help augment patrolling to prevent illicit activities at sea. K Shanmugam, Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu commissioned the vessel in the presence of minimal dignitaries while following all protocols amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The vessel C-449 is Forty-Ninth amongst the Fifty Four in its series being indigenously designed and built by M/s Larsen and Toubro Ltd, Hazira (Surat). This commissioning ceremony is said to be first in-person (as opposed to virtual) Coast Guard ceremony since the outbreak of COVID-19. With its top speed of 45knots (85kmph) and advanced navigation & communication equipment, coupled with modern systems, the vessel is undertaking multifarious tasks including Surveillance, Interdiction, Search and Rescue, in addition to assisting boats and crafts in distress at sea. “In the East Region, C-449 will be the 10th vessel in the Interceptor boat category. Currently we have eight Offshore Patrol Vessels(OPV) and 15 fast patrol vessels, besides 5 Dornier aircraft and 3 Chetak helicopters. At the pan-India level, the Coast Guard has about five interceptor boats and seven OPVs in the pipeline” S. Paramesh, Inspector General, Coast Guard East Region told WION. The ship is commanded by Assistant Commandant Ashish Sharma and will be based at Krishnapatnam under the administrative and operational control of the Commander, Coast Guard District Headquarters No. 6, Visakhapatnam. The Indian Coast Guard currently operates over 150 surface platforms and more than 60 aircraft. K Natarajan, Director General, Indian Coast Guard had earlier said: “Our Coast Guard stands larger than many navies in the world and we further plan to boost our assets to 200 vessels and 100 aircraft by 2025. We also have bilateral and multilateral agreements with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives etc. Daily we deploy 30-40 ships and 10-12 aircraft for surveillance and in the last decade we have saved over 10,000 lives, in over 3100 missions against the fury of nature.”

Indian Coast Guard commissions new Interceptor boat C-449 for East region

In a coordinated Search and Rescue mission (SAR), the Indian Coast Guard has rescued 14 fishermen, whose boat was adrift at sea, off the Nagapattinam coast, owing to a mechanical failure. An Indian coast guard ship in the region had undertaken the rescue mission after a merchant vessel MV Gas Ionian, that was passing by the stranded boat, had relayed the information to Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Chennai.&nbsp;

The fishing boat GN Sabari Vasan which had sailed out from Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin, with 14 crew was drifting at sea, since 4th August. It was observed to have a machinery breakdown and a damaged propeller. It was also dangerously drifting owing to the rough South East Monsoon weather.&nbsp;

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On August 5th, ICGS Shaurya, which was in the region had towed the boat back to the safety of the Nagapattinam fishing harbor for repairs. The boat was adrift at sea, nearly 88 miles east of Nagapattinam.

The Indian Coast Guard has been issuing regular advisories to undertake fishing in groups, adhering to safe practices at sea. They also urge fishermen to carry adequate lifesaving and communication equipment on board.&nbsp;

In a coordinated Search and Rescue mission (SAR), the Indian Coast Guard has rescued 14 fishermen, whose boat was adrift at sea, off the Nagapattinam coast, owing to a mechanical failure.

In a coordinated Search and Rescue mission (SAR), the Indian Coast Guard has rescued 14 fishermen, whose boat was adrift at sea, off the Nagapattinam coast, owing to a mechanical failure. An Indian coast guard ship in the region had undertaken the rescue mission after a merchant vessel MV Gas Ionian, that was passing by the stranded boat, had relayed the information to Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Chennai. The fishing boat GN Sabari Vasan which had sailed out from Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin, with 14 crew was drifting at sea, since 4th August. It was observed to have a machinery breakdown and a damaged propeller. It was also dangerously drifting owing to the rough South East Monsoon weather. Also read: Astronauts for India's first manned space mission, Gangayaan, complete training in Russia On August 5th, ICGS Shaurya, which was in the region had towed the boat back to the safety of the Nagapattinam fishing harbor for repairs. The boat was adrift at sea, nearly 88 miles east of Nagapattinam. The Indian Coast Guard has been issuing regular advisories to undertake fishing in groups, adhering to safe practices at sea. They also urge fishermen to carry adequate lifesaving and communication equipment on board.

Tamil Nadu: Indian Coast Guard tows adrift boat to harbor, rescues 14 fishermen

Indian Coast Guard Ship Varaha (ICGS Varaha) was commissioned into service today by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in the presence of Krishnaswamy Natarajan, Director General, Indian Coast Guard and other senior officials, at the Chennai Port. Varaha is planned to be based at New Mangalore under the administrative and Operation control of Commander Coast Guard Region (West). The ship has a complement of 14 officers and 89 men and is commanded by Commandant Dushyant Kumar&nbsp;

‘Varaha' is the fourth ship in the series of seven 98-meter offshore patrol vessels(OPV) that are being built. The name Varaha has its roots in Indian mythology, where Lord Vishnu in his third incarnation took the form of a boar to rescue goddess earth from the ocean, by lifting her on his tusks. The ship has been indigenously designed and built by Larsen and Toubro(L&amp;T).&nbsp;

<img alt="Varaha" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3e6548ea-9b05-427f-a3fe-866bd65c3e03" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%285%29_10.jpg" />

(Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Varaha has been commissioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in Chennai on Wednesday.)

Speaking at the event, JD Patil, Director, L&amp;T Shipbuilding said, “the fourth OPV is the 50th Coast Guard vessel designed and developed by L&amp;T in Chennai. The three ships prior to Varaha were also delivered to the Coast Guard ahead of the contract schedule and we are sure that the remaining three vessels will also be delivered ahead. of schedule.”

Addressing the Officers, Krishnaswamy Natarajan, Director General, Indian Coast Guard said, “coast guard had a humble beginning in 1977 as the Marine wing of Customs and today we have become a force with 142 ships, boats and 62 aircraft for patrolling India’s Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ) and close coast patrol. Our Coast Guard stands larger than many navies in the world and we further plan to boost our assets to 200 vessels and 100 aircraft by 2025. We also have bilateral and multilateral agreements with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives etc. Daily we deploy 30-40 ships and 10-12 aircraft for surveillance and in the last decade we have saved over 10,000 lives, in over 3100 missions against the fury of nature.”

“Varaha has ultra-advanced navigation, communication and sensors. The OPV will be based out of Mangalore and will be covering our EEZ up to Kanyakumari and Lakshadweep The ship also carries the Advanced Light Helicopter(ALH) that is indigenously developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL). Not many countries in the world produce a wide range of assets from Fast Attack Craft to Aircraft Carriers, this showcases the significance of the Make in India initiative and collaboration with private players”, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The Minister recalled how the tradition of shipbuilding was not new to India and traced its roots to the Indus Valley Civilization. He added that the Chola empire that had established significant maritime trade ties with South and South East Asia.

She is armed with a 30mm gun and is to be fitted with the 12.7mm gun with Fire Control System(FCS). The 2100-ton displacing ship is propelled by two 9100Kw engines and can reach top speeds of 26knots and has an endurance of 5000 nautical miles, with the ability to stay at sea for 20 days without replenishment. It has been designed to carry one twin-engine light helicopter in the hangar and twin-engine heavy helicopter on deck, both of which have night-flying capabilities. Having helicopters on board extends the ship’s range by about 100 miles, while its radars have a range of 96miles.&nbsp;

Sources told WION that Varaha is among the fleet of ships that are based on a wholly digitally designed, indigenous model on which various ergonomic studies were conducted to ensure that they are extremely stable even in inclement weather, with minimum roll and pitch. In the earlier era, detailed ship drawings had to be made on tables that were as long as three dining tables and then the engineers would have to work on the models, whereas now it has all been computerized.&nbsp;

The ship also carries four high-speed boats including two rigid hull inflatable boats for swift boarding operation, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol. It is also capable of carrying Pollution Response equipment to contain oil spills at sea.

Indian Coast Guard Ship Varaha (ICGS Varaha) was commissioned into service today by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in the presence of Krishnaswamy Natarajan, Director General, Indian Coast Guard and other senior officials, at the Chennai Port.

Indian Coast Guard Ship Varaha (ICGS Varaha) was commissioned into service today by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in the presence of Krishnaswamy Natarajan, Director General, Indian Coast Guard and other senior officials, at the Chennai Port. Varaha is planned to be based at New Mangalore under the administrative and Operation control of Commander Coast Guard Region (West). The ship has a complement of 14 officers and 89 men and is commanded by Commandant Dushyant Kumar ‘Varaha' is the fourth ship in the series of seven 98-meter offshore patrol vessels(OPV) that are being built. The name Varaha has its roots in Indian mythology, where Lord Vishnu in his third incarnation took the form of a boar to rescue goddess earth from the ocean, by lifting her on his tusks. The ship has been indigenously designed and built by Larsen and Toubro(L&T). (Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Varaha has been commissioned by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in Chennai on Wednesday.) Speaking at the event, JD Patil, Director, L&T Shipbuilding said, “the fourth OPV is the 50th Coast Guard vessel designed and developed by L&T in Chennai. The three ships prior to Varaha were also delivered to the Coast Guard ahead of the contract schedule and we are sure that the remaining three vessels will also be delivered ahead. of schedule.” Addressing the Officers, Krishnaswamy Natarajan, Director General, Indian Coast Guard said, “coast guard had a humble beginning in 1977 as the Marine wing of Customs and today we have become a force with 142 ships, boats and 62 aircraft for patrolling India’s Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ) and close coast patrol. Our Coast Guard stands larger than many navies in the world and we further plan to boost our assets to 200 vessels and 100 aircraft by 2025. We also have bilateral and multilateral agreements with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives etc. Daily we deploy 30-40 ships and 10-12 aircraft for surveillance and in the last decade we have saved over 10,000 lives, in over 3100 missions against the fury of nature.” “Varaha has ultra-advanced navigation, communication and sensors. The OPV will be based out of Mangalore and will be covering our EEZ up to Kanyakumari and Lakshadweep The ship also carries the Advanced Light Helicopter(ALH) that is indigenously developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL). Not many countries in the world produce a wide range of assets from Fast Attack Craft to Aircraft Carriers, this showcases the significance of the Make in India initiative and collaboration with private players”, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The Minister recalled how the tradition of shipbuilding was not new to India and traced its roots to the Indus Valley Civilization. He added that the Chola empire that had established significant maritime trade ties with South and South East Asia. She is armed with a 30mm gun and is to be fitted with the 12.7mm gun with Fire Control System(FCS). The 2100-ton displacing ship is propelled by two 9100Kw engines and can reach top speeds of 26knots and has an endurance of 5000 nautical miles, with the ability to stay at sea for 20 days without replenishment. It has been designed to carry one twin-engine light helicopter in the hangar and twin-engine heavy helicopter on deck, both of which have night-flying capabilities. Having helicopters on board extends the ship’s range by about 100 miles, while its radars have a range of 96miles. Sources told WION that Varaha is among the fleet of ships that are based on a wholly digitally designed, indigenous model on which various ergonomic studies were conducted to ensure that they are extremely stable even in inclement weather, with minimum roll and pitch. In the earlier era, detailed ship drawings had to be made on tables that were as long as three dining tables and then the engineers would have to work on the models, whereas now it has all been computerized. The ship also carries four high-speed boats including two rigid hull inflatable boats for swift boarding operation, search and rescue, law enforcement and maritime patrol. It is also capable of carrying Pollution Response equipment to contain oil spills at sea.

Coast Guard ship ‘Varaha’ commissioned; Indian Coast Guard to get stronger by 67 vessels and 38 aircraft by 2025

In his maiden visit to Chennai as Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh awarded gallantry and meritorious service medals to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel at an impressive investiture ceremony held at Indian Coast Guard Air Station. The Director-General Indian Coast Guard K Natarajan, Senior Officers of the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Coast Guard along with their families graced the occasion.

The Presidents Tatrakshak Medals (PTM) and Tatrakshak Medals (TM) are awarded in recognition of selfless devotion to duty, exemplary courage and acts of valor under extreme conditions. The Defence Minister inspected Ceremonial Guard prior awarding the medals. A total of 61 awards which included 01 PTM (Gallantry), 08 PTM (Distinguished Service), 32 TM (Gallantry) and 20 TM (Meritorious Service) were conferred.&nbsp;

Speaking at the event, the Defence Minister said, “Our country is on the path to fast-paced development and unhindered maritime activity is central to the overall growth trajectory of our nation. This calls for a 24*7 vigil, coordination and proactive approach from all agencies in the maritime domain. The Coast Guard has been at the forefront in evolving regional co-operation and is working with international maritime agencies for testing peace in the Indian Ocean.”

Referring to the dastardly 26/11 Mumbai attacks, where the terrorists infiltrated via the sea route, Singh emphasized that land and sea security are interlinked. “A precious life is saved every second day at sea. Our country faces threats from state-funded terrorism and non-state actors.”&nbsp;

“Indian Coast Guard proved its prowess and reach by undertaking major fire-fighting operation on-board Merchant ship Daiela off Colombo, Motor Tanker Genessa off Kandla and Merchant vessel Maersk Honam on the fringes of Indian Search and Rescue Region and carved a niche among International Maritime community. The service created maritime history by seizing 1.5 tons of heroin from merchant ship Henry, causing a setback to anti-nations elements by averting misuse of funds that would have been generated from contraband sale.”

On recent rescue operations by the Coast Guard, the minister said, 4000 lives were saved during the floods in Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka as a part of “Operation Sahayata.”

The achievements of the ‘Sentinels of the Sea’ were hailed and the support of the family members of the Coast Guard personnel were also acknowledged.

In his maiden visit to Chennai as Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh awarded gallantry and meritorious service medals to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel at an impressive investiture ceremony held at Indian Coast Guard Air Station.

In his maiden visit to Chennai as Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh awarded gallantry and meritorious service medals to the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel at an impressive investiture ceremony held at Indian Coast Guard Air Station. The Director-General Indian Coast Guard K Natarajan, Senior Officers of the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Coast Guard along with their families graced the occasion. The Presidents Tatrakshak Medals (PTM) and Tatrakshak Medals (TM) are awarded in recognition of selfless devotion to duty, exemplary courage and acts of valor under extreme conditions. The Defence Minister inspected Ceremonial Guard prior awarding the medals. A total of 61 awards which included 01 PTM (Gallantry), 08 PTM (Distinguished Service), 32 TM (Gallantry) and 20 TM (Meritorious Service) were conferred. Speaking at the event, the Defence Minister said, “Our country is on the path to fast-paced development and unhindered maritime activity is central to the overall growth trajectory of our nation. This calls for a 24*7 vigil, coordination and proactive approach from all agencies in the maritime domain. The Coast Guard has been at the forefront in evolving regional co-operation and is working with international maritime agencies for testing peace in the Indian Ocean.” Referring to the dastardly 26/11 Mumbai attacks, where the terrorists infiltrated via the sea route, Singh emphasized that land and sea security are interlinked. “A precious life is saved every second day at sea. Our country faces threats from state-funded terrorism and non-state actors.” “Indian Coast Guard proved its prowess and reach by undertaking major fire-fighting operation on-board Merchant ship Daiela off Colombo, Motor Tanker Genessa off Kandla and Merchant vessel Maersk Honam on the fringes of Indian Search and Rescue Region and carved a niche among International Maritime community. The service created maritime history by seizing 1.5 tons of heroin from merchant ship Henry, causing a setback to anti-nations elements by averting misuse of funds that would have been generated from contraband sale.” On recent rescue operations by the Coast Guard, the minister said, 4000 lives were saved during the floods in Kerala, Maharashtra and Karnataka as a part of “Operation Sahayata.” The achievements of the ‘Sentinels of the Sea’ were hailed and the support of the family members of the Coast Guard personnel were also acknowledged.

Chennai: Coast Guard personnel awarded gallantry, meritorious service medals by Rajnath Singh

The Defence Ministry on Monday issued four tenders worth over Rs 15,000 crore for the acquisition of warships and craft for the Navy and the Coast Guard.

"While the RFP for 6 Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs) has been issued to seven shipyards, RFPs for 8 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), 12 Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) and 8 Missile-cum-Ammunition Barges have been issued to shortlisted Indian shipyards," the ministry said in a release.

The RFP for hovercrafts also includes the initial requirement for six of these vessels of the Indian Army.

"In addition to the above, few more RFPs for more shipbuilding projects are likely to be issued in the next few months," the ministry said.

In order to make the process of qualifying the shipyards for the issue of RFPs for shipbuilding projects of various ships and craft of the Navy and the Coast Guard more objective and to encourage participation by a larger number of Indian shipyards, an exercise was undertaken by the ministry along with the Navy and the Coast Guard.

This led to the rationalisation of guidelines for the capacity assessment of shipyards that have been promulgated recently.

Rationalisation and promulgation of financial selection criteria have paved the way for issue of RFPs for a large number of shipbuilding projects that have been pending.

"In a significant move to encourage smaller shipyards, participation in the projects with the anticipated annual outflow of less than Rs 75 crore has been restricted to smaller shipyards having an average annual turnover less than Rs 500 crore," the release said.

In addition to a wide application in military and coastal surveillance, Air Cushion Vehicles have substantial potential in the commercial sector like civil transportation, disaster management and tourism.

Considering the need for absorbing the relevant design and construction technology for building these craft in India at affordable cost, a feature to encourage joint development of design by Indian shipyards in collaboration with a foreign design house of ACVs or by sourcing the design for construction of ACVs with substantial Indian content has been included in the RFP for ACVs.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

The Defence Ministry on Monday issued four tenders worth over Rs 15,000 crore for the acquisition of warships and craft for the Navy and the Coast Guard. "While the RFP for 6 Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs) has been issued to seven shipyards, RFPs for 8 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), 12 Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) and 8 Missile-cum-Ammunition Barges have been issued to shortlisted Indian shipyards," the ministry said in a release.

The Defence Ministry on Monday issued four tenders worth over Rs 15,000 crore for the acquisition of warships and craft for the Navy and the Coast Guard. "While the RFP for 6 Next Generation Missile Vessels (NGMVs) has been issued to seven shipyards, RFPs for 8 Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs), 12 Air Cushion Vehicles (ACVs) and 8 Missile-cum-Ammunition Barges have been issued to shortlisted Indian shipyards," the ministry said in a release. The RFP for hovercrafts also includes the initial requirement for six of these vessels of the Indian Army. "In addition to the above, few more RFPs for more shipbuilding projects are likely to be issued in the next few months," the ministry said. In order to make the process of qualifying the shipyards for the issue of RFPs for shipbuilding projects of various ships and craft of the Navy and the Coast Guard more objective and to encourage participation by a larger number of Indian shipyards, an exercise was undertaken by the ministry along with the Navy and the Coast Guard. This led to the rationalisation of guidelines for the capacity assessment of shipyards that have been promulgated recently. Rationalisation and promulgation of financial selection criteria have paved the way for issue of RFPs for a large number of shipbuilding projects that have been pending. "In a significant move to encourage smaller shipyards, participation in the projects with the anticipated annual outflow of less than Rs 75 crore has been restricted to smaller shipyards having an average annual turnover less than Rs 500 crore," the release said. In addition to a wide application in military and coastal surveillance, Air Cushion Vehicles have substantial potential in the commercial sector like civil transportation, disaster management and tourism. Considering the need for absorbing the relevant design and construction technology for building these craft in India at affordable cost, a feature to encourage joint development of design by Indian shipyards in collaboration with a foreign design house of ACVs or by sourcing the design for construction of ACVs with substantial Indian content has been included in the RFP for ACVs.

Defence Ministry issues 4 tenders of over Rs 15,000 crore for Navy, Coast Guard vessels

The Indian Coast Guard on Tuesday announced it had seized a fishing boat registered in Karachi, Pakistan, off the coast of Gujarat and confiscated 194 packets of narcotics substance from it.

Gujarat: Coast Guard seizes Pakistani boat with 194 packets of narcotics

Navy and Coast Guard ships and helicopters, relief teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in strategic locations, while Army and Air Force units have been put on standby as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-fani-to-hit-puri-on-friday-odisha-cm-wants-polls-to-be-postponed-214742">severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' is approaching towards India's eastern coast</a>, officials said Tuesday.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), the country's top body to deal with emergency situations, met here Tuesday for the second time in as many days and reviewed the preparedness with the states and departments concerned of the central government to deal with the situation arising out of the cyclonic storm.

"The Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue operations. The Indian Army and the Indian Air Force units in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal have also been put on standby," a Home Ministry official said.

Indian Naval ships at Visakhapatnam and Chennai are standing-by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief (HADR), evacuation, logistic support including providing medical aid, the Navy said in a statement.&nbsp;

"These ships are embarked with additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats and relief material that include food, tentage, clothes, medicines, blankets, in quantities sufficient. Naval aircraft are also standing-by at the Naval Air Stations INS Rajali at Arakkonam, Tamilnadu and INS Dega at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty evacuation and airdrop of relief material to the stranded if required," the Navy said.&nbsp;

The NDRF is deploying 41 teams in Andhra Pradesh (8), Odisha (28) and West Bengal (5) for prepositioning. In addition, the NDRF is keeping on standby 13 teams in West Bengal and 10 in Andhra Pradesh, the official said. A team NDRF comprises about 45 personnel.

A Home Ministry statement said based on the decision of the first meeting of the NCMC, headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, the central government has already released advance financial assistance of Rs 1,086 crore to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal to assist them in undertaking preventive and relief measures.

The states have issued advisories and are ensuring that fishermen do not venture into the sea.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been issuing three hourly bulletins with the latest forecast to all the states concerned. The Home Ministry is also in continuous touch with the state governments and the central agencies concerned.

Reviewing the preparedness of the states and central agencies, the cabinet secretary directed that all necessary measures be taken to prevent any loss of life and to keep in readiness essential supplies, including food, drinking water and medicines, the statement said.

He also advised all concerned to make adequate preparations to ensure the maintenance of essential services such as power, telecommunications in the event of damages caused to them.

During the meeting, officers of all the state governments concerned confirmed their preparedness to deal with any emerging situation arising out of the cyclonic storm. 
The IMD informed that the severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' lay centred this afternoon at about 800 km south of Puri.

According to the IMD, it is 'very likely' to intensify further into an 'extremely severe' cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours and move northwestwards till May 1 evening, and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards and reach Odisha coast by the afternoon of May 3.

Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha, East and West Medinipur, South and North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and Kolkata districts of West Bengal, and Srikakulam and Vijayanagram districts of Andhra Pradesh are likely to be affected according to present indications, the statement said.

Chief secretaries and principal secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal participated in the NCMC Meeting through video conference.

Senior officers from the ministries of home, shipping, fisheries, power, telecommunications, defence, IMD and NDRF also attended the meeting.

The NCMC will meet again Wednesday to take stock of the emerging situation.

Navy and Coast Guard ships and helicopters, relief teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in strategic locations, while Army and Air Force units have been put on standby as severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' is approaching towards India's eastern coast, officials said Tuesday.

Navy and Coast Guard ships and helicopters, relief teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in strategic locations, while Army and Air Force units have been put on standby as severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' is approaching towards India's eastern coast, officials said Tuesday. The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), the country's top body to deal with emergency situations, met here Tuesday for the second time in as many days and reviewed the preparedness with the states and departments concerned of the central government to deal with the situation arising out of the cyclonic storm. "The Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue operations. The Indian Army and the Indian Air Force units in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal have also been put on standby," a Home Ministry official said. Indian Naval ships at Visakhapatnam and Chennai are standing-by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief (HADR), evacuation, logistic support including providing medical aid, the Navy said in a statement. "These ships are embarked with additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats and relief material that include food, tentage, clothes, medicines, blankets, in quantities sufficient. Naval aircraft are also standing-by at the Naval Air Stations INS Rajali at Arakkonam, Tamilnadu and INS Dega at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty evacuation and airdrop of relief material to the stranded if required," the Navy said. The NDRF is deploying 41 teams in Andhra Pradesh (8), Odisha (28) and West Bengal (5) for prepositioning. In addition, the NDRF is keeping on standby 13 teams in West Bengal and 10 in Andhra Pradesh, the official said. A team NDRF comprises about 45 personnel. A Home Ministry statement said based on the decision of the first meeting of the NCMC, headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, the central government has already released advance financial assistance of Rs 1,086 crore to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal to assist them in undertaking preventive and relief measures. The states have issued advisories and are ensuring that fishermen do not venture into the sea. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has been issuing three hourly bulletins with the latest forecast to all the states concerned. The Home Ministry is also in continuous touch with the state governments and the central agencies concerned. Reviewing the preparedness of the states and central agencies, the cabinet secretary directed that all necessary measures be taken to prevent any loss of life and to keep in readiness essential supplies, including food, drinking water and medicines, the statement said. He also advised all concerned to make adequate preparations to ensure the maintenance of essential services such as power, telecommunications in the event of damages caused to them. During the meeting, officers of all the state governments concerned confirmed their preparedness to deal with any emerging situation arising out of the cyclonic storm. The IMD informed that the severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' lay centred this afternoon at about 800 km south of Puri. According to the IMD, it is 'very likely' to intensify further into an 'extremely severe' cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours and move northwestwards till May 1 evening, and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards and reach Odisha coast by the afternoon of May 3. Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha, East and West Medinipur, South and North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly and Kolkata districts of West Bengal, and Srikakulam and Vijayanagram districts of Andhra Pradesh are likely to be affected according to present indications, the statement said. Chief secretaries and principal secretaries of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal participated in the NCMC Meeting through video conference. Senior officers from the ministries of home, shipping, fisheries, power, telecommunications, defence, IMD and NDRF also attended the meeting. The NCMC will meet again Wednesday to take stock of the emerging situation.

Navy, Coast Guard ships, NDRF teams deployed along east coast to deal with cyclone Fani

An Indian fishing boat was fired on and then rammed by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA ) on January 17 at 7 am near Mitha Port in Gujarat. Seven fishermen fell overboard, of whom six were rescued by the Indian coast guard.&nbsp;

The fishing boat sank about 64 nautical miles southwest of Mitha port.&nbsp;

The one fisherman missing is presumed dead.

India raised the matter with Islamabad on January 19 through a note verbale sent from the Ministry of External Affairs.

New Delhi said in the note verbale: "India condemned in the strongest term such deplorable and unprofessional act by PMSA of firing at a fishing vessel and later ramming and sinking it".

The note verbale added that "such acts are in contravention of all international laws, conventions and the established humanitarian norms and practices."

India also called on Pakistan to "investigate the heinous act and instruct" its forces to "desist from such acts immediately".

This is the first such incident to come to light in recent years. An Indian fisherman was killed In 2015 in Pakistani firing.&nbsp;

The issue of Indian fishermen has been one of the key matters India has been raising with Pakistan. According to India, Pakistan has in its custody 418 fishermen who are Indian or are believed to be Indian. Since 2014, India has got back 1,699 Indian fishermen and 57 Indian fishing boats from Pakistan.&nbsp;

Speaking in Parliament on the issue of Indian fishermen in Pakistani custody, Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh had said, "Government regularly takes up the issue of early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen along with their boats with the Pakistan authorities."&nbsp;

&nbsp;

An Indian fishing boat was fired on and then rammed by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA ) on January 17 at 7 am near Mitha Port in Gujarat. Seven fishermen fell overboard, of whom six were rescued by the Indian coast guard.

An Indian fishing boat was fired on and then rammed by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA ) on January 17 at 7 am near Mitha Port in Gujarat. Seven fishermen fell overboard, of whom six were rescued by the Indian coast guard. The fishing boat sank about 64 nautical miles southwest of Mitha port. The one fisherman missing is presumed dead. India raised the matter with Islamabad on January 19 through a note verbale sent from the Ministry of External Affairs. New Delhi said in the note verbale: "India condemned in the strongest term such deplorable and unprofessional act by PMSA of firing at a fishing vessel and later ramming and sinking it". The note verbale added that "such acts are in contravention of all international laws, conventions and the established humanitarian norms and practices." India also called on Pakistan to "investigate the heinous act and instruct" its forces to "desist from such acts immediately". This is the first such incident to come to light in recent years. An Indian fisherman was killed In 2015 in Pakistani firing. The issue of Indian fishermen has been one of the key matters India has been raising with Pakistan. According to India, Pakistan has in its custody 418 fishermen who are Indian or are believed to be Indian. Since 2014, India has got back 1,699 Indian fishermen and 57 Indian fishing boats from Pakistan. Speaking in Parliament on the issue of Indian fishermen in Pakistani custody, Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh had said, "Government regularly takes up the issue of early release and repatriation of Indian fishermen along with their boats with the Pakistan authorities."

Pakistan fires on Indian fishing boat; 1 fisherman dead

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has initiated a series of preemptive and proactive measures to prevent loss of lives of fishermen as cyclone 'Gaja' intensified into a severe cyclonic storm Thursday, the Defence Ministry said. Around eight ICG ships and two Dornier aircraft were pressed into action since November 9 for issuance of advisories and warnings in local languages to fishermen at sea for their safe return to ports, it said.&nbsp;

The Coast Guard Remote Operating Stations have also requested fisheries authorities in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to account for all fishing boats.&nbsp;

"The ICG conducted series of community interaction programmes in Kanyakumari, Mandapam, Rameswaram, Cuddalore, Chennai, Nellore, Nizampatnam, Uppada and Vishakhapatnam to sensitise fishermen and coastal population for taking safety measures for the impending cyclone," the statement said.

The actions taken by the Coast Guard are a part of the lessons learnt from cyclone 'Ockhi' and success in preventing loss of lives during recent cyclones 'Luban' and 'Titli'.&nbsp;

Cyclone 'Gaja' is expected to cross the south Tamil Nadu coast by late Thursday evening or night, with the government machinery put on high alert in vulnerable districts in the state.&nbsp;

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has initiated a series of preemptive and proactive measures to prevent loss of lives of fishermen as cyclone 'Gaja' intensified into a severe cyclonic storm Thursday, the Defence Ministry said.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has initiated a series of preemptive and proactive measures to prevent loss of lives of fishermen as cyclone 'Gaja' intensified into a severe cyclonic storm Thursday, the Defence Ministry said. Around eight ICG ships and two Dornier aircraft were pressed into action since November 9 for issuance of advisories and warnings in local languages to fishermen at sea for their safe return to ports, it said. The Coast Guard Remote Operating Stations have also requested fisheries authorities in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to account for all fishing boats. "The ICG conducted series of community interaction programmes in Kanyakumari, Mandapam, Rameswaram, Cuddalore, Chennai, Nellore, Nizampatnam, Uppada and Vishakhapatnam to sensitise fishermen and coastal population for taking safety measures for the impending cyclone," the statement said. The actions taken by the Coast Guard are a part of the lessons learnt from cyclone 'Ockhi' and success in preventing loss of lives during recent cyclones 'Luban' and 'Titli'. Cyclone 'Gaja' is expected to cross the south Tamil Nadu coast by late Thursday evening or night, with the government machinery put on high alert in vulnerable districts in the state.

Coast Guard gears up for cyclone 'Gaja', issues warnings to fishermen

A boat carrying the Maharashtra Chief Secretary capsized off the Mumbai coast Wednesday evening.&nbsp;

PTI quoted a coast guard official as saying the boat capsized near the location of the proposed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj memorial, Shivaji Samarak.&nbsp;

The spot is about 2.6 kms off the Mumbai coast.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Visuals</a>: A passenger boat has capsized near Shivaji Smarak ( 2.6 km west of Mumbai's Nariman point). Boat belongs to Maharashtra Government. Rescue operation underway. Most people rescued. <a href="https://t.co/rajgTyFEYZ">pic.twitter.com/rajgTyFEYZ</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1055066068744585217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Visuals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Visuals</a>: A passenger boat had capsized near Shivaji Smarak ( 2.6 km west of Mumbai's Nariman point). Boat belongs to Maharashtra Government. Rescue operation underway. Most people rescued. <a href="https://t.co/P1OWEdohKE">pic.twitter.com/P1OWEdohKE</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1055072598340579328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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PTI added that other government officials were also on board.&nbsp;

The coast guard later said all the passengers on board the boat were rescued. &nbsp;

A boat carrying the Maharashtra Chief Secretary capsized off the Mumbai coast Wednesday evening. PTI quoted a coast guard official as saying the boat capsized near the location of the proposed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj memorial, Shivaji Samarak.

A boat carrying the Maharashtra Chief Secretary capsized off the Mumbai coast Wednesday evening. PTI quoted a coast guard official as saying the boat capsized near the location of the proposed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj memorial, Shivaji Samarak. The spot is about 2.6 kms off the Mumbai coast. #Visuals: A passenger boat has capsized near Shivaji Smarak ( 2.6 km west of Mumbai's Nariman point). Boat belongs to Maharashtra Government. Rescue operation underway. Most people rescued. pic.twitter.com/rajgTyFEYZ — ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2018 × #Visuals: A passenger boat had capsized near Shivaji Smarak ( 2.6 km west of Mumbai's Nariman point). Boat belongs to Maharashtra Government. Rescue operation underway. Most people rescued. pic.twitter.com/P1OWEdohKE — ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2018 × PTI added that other government officials were also on board. The coast guard later said all the passengers on board the boat were rescued.

Boat carrying Maharashtra Chief Secretary capsizes off Mumbai coast

The Indian Coast Guard ship Rajkiran and Dornier aircraft on Thursday rescued all the 22 crew members on board Indian flag Container vessel, MV SSL Kolkata which had caught fire Wednesday night.

The Rajkiran ship that reached the area at about 8:30 am was launched from Haldia while the Coast Guard Dornier aircraft was launched from Kolkata.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Merchant Vessel SSL KOLKATA caught fire last night 11 out of 22 crew members rescued by Indian Coast Guard ship Rajkiran from Haldia, rescue operation for remaining crew members underway <a href="https://t.co/FS6KccSSQA">pic.twitter.com/FS6KccSSQA</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1007164884885180416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The coast guard conducted the rescue operation under bad weather and rough sea condition. It also clarified that there was no spill of fuel as of now.

The container carrier was on a coastal voyage from Krishnapatnam to Kolkata with the crew and 464 containers.

We have successfully rescued all the crew members and they are safe," said Inspector General Kuldeep Singh Sheoran, Coast Guard Commander at Regional Headquarters (North East) in Kolkata.

About 70 per cent of the vessel was on fire when the rescue team reached MV SSL Kolkata.

The fire in the vessel broke out due to explosion in one of the container and gradually spread over.

"All the 22 survivors including the captain of the ship were picked up by the Coast Guard vessel," Coast Guard Commander (NE) Inspector General K S Sheoran said. The crew of the ship was rescued amid rough seas and inclement weather, he added.

(With input&nbspfrom Agencies)

The coast guard conducted the rescue operation under bad weather and rough sea condition. It also clarified that there was no spill of fuel as of now

The Indian Coast Guard ship Rajkiran and Dornier aircraft on Thursday rescued all the 22 crew members on board Indian flag Container vessel, MV SSL Kolkata which had caught fire Wednesday night. The Rajkiran ship that reached the area at about 8:30 am was launched from Haldia while the Coast Guard Dornier aircraft was launched from Kolkata. #WATCH Merchant Vessel SSL KOLKATA caught fire last night 11 out of 22 crew members rescued by Indian Coast Guard ship Rajkiran from Haldia, rescue operation for remaining crew members underway pic.twitter.com/FS6KccSSQA — ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2018 × The coast guard conducted the rescue operation under bad weather and rough sea condition. It also clarified that there was no spill of fuel as of now. The container carrier was on a coastal voyage from Krishnapatnam to Kolkata with the crew and 464 containers. We have successfully rescued all the crew members and they are safe," said Inspector General Kuldeep Singh Sheoran, Coast Guard Commander at Regional Headquarters (North East) in Kolkata. About 70 per cent of the vessel was on fire when the rescue team reached MV SSL Kolkata. The fire in the vessel broke out due to explosion in one of the container and gradually spread over. "All the 22 survivors including the captain of the ship were picked up by the Coast Guard vessel," Coast Guard Commander (NE) Inspector General K S Sheoran said. The crew of the ship was rescued amid rough seas and inclement weather, he added. (With input&nbspfrom Agencies)

Watch: Merchant vessel SSL Kolkata catches fire, all 22 members rescued

The body of a 27-year-old Indian Navy sailor, who slipped and fell into the sea off Ramanathapuram coast, was recovered some five nautical miles off Jegadapattinam in Pudukottai district, intelligence bureau officials here said.

Ramprakash, a Grade-II sailor, was sailing INS Car Nicobar&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;night when he fell off the patrol vessel between Thondi and Jegadapattinam, they said.

A search involving ships of the Navy and Coast Guard was launched to trace the sailor.

His body was found last night, about five nautical miles off Jegadapattinam coast, IB officials said.

The mortal remains of the sailor were taken to Chennai.

A search involving ships of the Navy and Coast Guard was launched to trace the sailor

The body of a 27-year-old Indian Navy sailor, who slipped and fell into the sea off Ramanathapuram coast, was recovered some five nautical miles off Jegadapattinam in Pudukottai district, intelligence bureau officials here said. Ramprakash, a Grade-II sailor, was sailing INS Car Nicobar on Wednesday night when he fell off the patrol vessel between Thondi and Jegadapattinam, they said. A search involving ships of the Navy and Coast Guard was launched to trace the sailor. His body was found last night, about five nautical miles off Jegadapattinam coast, IB officials said. The mortal remains of the sailor were taken to Chennai.

Body of Indian Navy sailor recovered off Tamil Nadu coast

At least 15 African migrants died on Sunday when their boat trying to reach Europe capsized off the Algerian coast, a coast guard official said.

Coast guard and civil protection authorities rescued 19 of 34 people on board, state news agency APS said.

The boat sank off the coast of Oran, a city some 450 km west of the capital Algiers, the official told Ennahar TV station, adding that the boat had departed from Morocco.

No details on nationalities were provided.

Last week, Algeria's interior ministry said the North African country was suffering from an influx of illegal migrants from sub-Saharan countries as Europe had made boat departures more difficult from Libya and other countries.&nbsp

Coast guard and civil protection authorities rescued 19 of 34 people on board

At least 15 African migrants died on Sunday when their boat trying to reach Europe capsized off the Algerian coast, a coast guard official said. Coast guard and civil protection authorities rescued 19 of 34 people on board, state news agency APS said. The boat sank off the coast of Oran, a city some 450 km west of the capital Algiers, the official told Ennahar TV station, adding that the boat had departed from Morocco. No details on nationalities were provided. Last week, Algeria's interior ministry said the North African country was suffering from an influx of illegal migrants from sub-Saharan countries as Europe had made boat departures more difficult from Libya and other countries.

 At least 15 migrants die after boat sinks off Algerian coast

A Pawan Hans helicopter with seven persons on-board, including five ONGC officers and two pilots, crashed off the Mumbai coast minutes after it took off for the state-owned company&#39;s oil installation in the Arabian sea.

So far, four bodies have been recovered, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation said in a statement.

The search operation is on for other missing persons.

The Pawan Hans helicopter with five ONGC officers, including three of the level of Deputy General Managers, went missing around 10.40 hours today.

ONGC, Coast Guard and Navy pressed helicopters and speed boats as soon as the information of the chopper going missing was received at the Juhu helibase.

ONGC has key oil and gas fields off the Mumbai coast and Pawan Hans helicopters routinely ferry company employees and officers to the oil installations that are situated as far as 160 kilometres from the coastline.

The field in the offshore include Mumbai High, the nation&#39;s largest oil field and Bassein fields, the largest gas field.

The helicopter crash is not the first accident in ONGC&#39;s history. In August 2003, Mi-172 helicopter crashed off Mumbai coast killing 27 company persons and pilot on-board.

&quot;ONGC vessels and choppers along with the Coast Guard and Indian navy are combing the areas where the chopper has apparently crashed,&quot; the ONGC statement said.

&quot;Identification of the bodies is in progress&quot;.

The chopper Dauphin N3 had gone missing after taking off from Juhu aerodrome at 10.30 AM.

The chopper, bearing registration number VT-PWA, was scheduled to land at the designated oil rig at Mumbai High at 11 am. Five employees of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and two pilots were on-board the chopper.

The Navy said it had deployed its stealth frigate INS Teg for the search operation, while surveillance aircraft P8i was also pressed into service.

The Coast Guard had also diverted its ships to search the missing chopper.

A senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official said that the aircraft accident investigation body AAIB will probe the Pawan Hans chopper crash.

&quot;Since it is a clear accident, this chopper crash will be probed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB),&quot; the official said.

He said the DGCA will extend all necessary help to the AAIB in conducting the probe.

AAIB is the apex body which probes serious incidents and accidents, involving aircraft registered in India and comes under the civil aviation ministry.

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives.

&quot;IndiaCoastGuard Ship on receipt of information reached area, located the debris, picked up a body at 1230 hrs,&quot; he said on twitter.

&quot;So far resulted in 03 body recovery. Search &amp; rescue operations are underway. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will launch thorough inquiry (sic),&quot; he tweeted.

So far, four bodies have been recovered, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation said in a statement. The search operation is on for other missing persons.

A Pawan Hans helicopter with seven persons on-board, including five ONGC officers and two pilots, crashed off the Mumbai coast minutes after it took off for the state-owned company's oil installation in the Arabian sea. So far, four bodies have been recovered, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation said in a statement. The search operation is on for other missing persons. The Pawan Hans helicopter with five ONGC officers, including three of the level of Deputy General Managers, went missing around 10.40 hours today. ONGC, Coast Guard and Navy pressed helicopters and speed boats as soon as the information of the chopper going missing was received at the Juhu helibase. ONGC has key oil and gas fields off the Mumbai coast and Pawan Hans helicopters routinely ferry company employees and officers to the oil installations that are situated as far as 160 kilometres from the coastline. The field in the offshore include Mumbai High, the nation's largest oil field and Bassein fields, the largest gas field. The helicopter crash is not the first accident in ONGC's history. In August 2003, Mi-172 helicopter crashed off Mumbai coast killing 27 company persons and pilot on-board. "ONGC vessels and choppers along with the Coast Guard and Indian navy are combing the areas where the chopper has apparently crashed," the ONGC statement said. "Identification of the bodies is in progress". The chopper Dauphin N3 had gone missing after taking off from Juhu aerodrome at 10.30 AM. The chopper, bearing registration number VT-PWA, was scheduled to land at the designated oil rig at Mumbai High at 11 am. Five employees of state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and two pilots were on-board the chopper. The Navy said it had deployed its stealth frigate INS Teg for the search operation, while surveillance aircraft P8i was also pressed into service. The Coast Guard had also diverted its ships to search the missing chopper. A senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official said that the aircraft accident investigation body AAIB will probe the Pawan Hans chopper crash. "Since it is a clear accident, this chopper crash will be probed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)," the official said. He said the DGCA will extend all necessary help to the AAIB in conducting the probe. AAIB is the apex body which probes serious incidents and accidents, involving aircraft registered in India and comes under the civil aviation ministry. Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha expressed deep anguish over the loss of lives. "IndiaCoastGuard Ship on receipt of information reached area, located the debris, picked up a body at 1230 hrs," he said on twitter. "So far resulted in 03 body recovery. Search & rescue operations are underway. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will launch thorough inquiry (sic)," he tweeted.

Pawan Hans chopper crashes off Mumbai coast, 4 bodies found

Cyclone Ockhi battered Lakshadweep islands on Saturday causing severe destruction and claiming 14 lives with many fishermen still trapped at sea.

Several houses were damaged, coconut trees got uprooted and communication lines were also disrupted due to the rains accompanied by strong winds lashed in the island.

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Early morning visuals from Lakshadweep; destruction caused by strong winds &amp; high tides. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneOckhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneOckhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/kO26bbSjlK">pic.twitter.com/kO26bbSjlK</a>
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Over 200 fisherman was rescued by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), coast guard and Navy.

Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-ockhi-will-further-intensify-in-next-24-hours-india-meteorological-department-25653"> Cyclone Ockhi will further intensify in next 24 hours: India Meteorological Department</a>

The cyclone-hit areas have also been evacuated by thousands of people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, assuring him of support operations including necessary funds.

According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the cyclone is expected to travel north towards Mumbai and Gujarat in next 48 hours, though it may lose its intensity.

Fishermen have also been warned not go to the sea for the next few days as waves are likely to be 12-15 feet high.

Cyclone Ockhi has also created massive destruction and claiming lives of atleast 10 people in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Now, it is expected to travel north towards Mumbai and Gujarat in the next 48 hours though it may lose its intensity, said Indian Meteorological Department (IMD)

The deadly storm has killed seven people in neighbouring Sri Lanka and affected the lives of nearly 20,000 people.

Several houses were damaged, coconut trees got uprooted and communication lines were also disrupted due to the rains accompanied by strong winds lashed in the island

Cyclone Ockhi battered Lakshadweep islands on Saturday causing severe destruction and claiming 14 lives with many fishermen still trapped at sea. Several houses were damaged, coconut trees got uprooted and communication lines were also disrupted due to the rains accompanied by strong winds lashed in the island. Early morning visuals from Lakshadweep; destruction caused by strong winds & high tides. #CycloneOckhi pic.twitter.com/kO26bbSjlK — ANI (@ANI) December 2, 2017 × Over 200 fisherman was rescued by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), coast guard and Navy. Also read: Cyclone Ockhi will further intensify in next 24 hours: India Meteorological Department The cyclone-hit areas have also been evacuated by thousands of people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, assuring him of support operations including necessary funds. According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the cyclone is expected to travel north towards Mumbai and Gujarat in next 48 hours, though it may lose its intensity. Fishermen have also been warned not go to the sea for the next few days as waves are likely to be 12-15 feet high. Cyclone Ockhi has also created massive destruction and claiming lives of atleast 10 people in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Now, it is expected to travel north towards Mumbai and Gujarat in the next 48 hours though it may lose its intensity, said Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) The deadly storm has killed seven people in neighbouring Sri Lanka and affected the lives of nearly 20,000 people.

At least 14 killed as cyclone Ockhi batters Lakshwadeep

Cyclone Ockhi barrelled into the Lakshwadeep islands on Saturday after drenching the neighbouring states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, claiming so far around 14 lives with many fishermen still feared trapped at sea.

Authorities including the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Coast Guard and Navy have rescued about 223 fishermen and evacuated thousands of people from cyclone-hit areas, officials said, as they continued their operations on Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, assuring him of support operations including necessary funds, according to local media.

Ockhi is expected to travel north towards Mumbai and Gujarat in the next 48 hours, according to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Director S. Sudevan in Trivandrum, though it is likely to lose intensity.

&quot;The intensity of the wind may come down and the cyclone could change into depression,&quot; Sudevan said adding fishermen have been warned not go to the sea for the next few days as waves are likely to be 3-5 metres (12-15 feet) high.

Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-ockhi-will-further-intensify-in-next-24-hours-india-meteorological-department-25653"> Cyclone Ockhi will further intensify in next 24 hours: India Meteorological Department</a>

Coast Guard and Navy have rescued about 223 fishermen and evacuated thousands of people from cyclone hit areas

Cyclone Ockhi barrelled into the Lakshwadeep islands on Saturday after drenching the neighbouring states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, claiming so far around 14 lives with many fishermen still feared trapped at sea. Authorities including the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Coast Guard and Navy have rescued about 223 fishermen and evacuated thousands of people from cyclone-hit areas, officials said, as they continued their operations on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, assuring him of support operations including necessary funds, according to local media. Ockhi is expected to travel north towards Mumbai and Gujarat in the next 48 hours, according to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Director S. Sudevan in Trivandrum, though it is likely to lose intensity. "The intensity of the wind may come down and the cyclone could change into depression," Sudevan said adding fishermen have been warned not go to the sea for the next few days as waves are likely to be 3-5 metres (12-15 feet) high. Also read: Cyclone Ockhi will further intensify in next 24 hours: India Meteorological Department

Cyclone Ockhi batters Lakshwadeep coast killing 14, many missing

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