Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in Thiruvananthapuram today that the relief operations by the central and state forces in cyclone-hit areas are going on a war footing level. <br/><br/>The Minister who is on a visit to Thiruvananthapuram met the people affected by the cyclone tragedy in Vizhinjan and Poonthura in Thiruvananthapuram district. Ms Sitharaman conducted high-level meeting in Sangumukham in Thiruvananthapuram with <br/><br/>Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, MPs, MLA, Navy and Air force officers, coast guards, State police officials, District authorities etc and to take stock of the ongoing relief operations and damage occurred in the state.<br/><br/>Meanwhile, the death toll in rain-related incidents in Kerala reached 19. Around 690 missing fishermen have been rescued till now by the combined forces. <br/><br/>It is reported that there are more than 90 missing fishermen who need to be traced. There are nearly 6500 people in various relief camps in the state. The state government is taking precautionary measures to prevent outbreak of diseases in the coastal regions.<br/><br/>Relief and rescue operations are continuing in Lakshadweep islands. All efforts are being taken to re-establish the power supply, traffic and communication network in the island.

Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that relief operations by the central and state forces in cyclone hit areas are on going in war footing. <br/><br/>The Minister was talking to the people affected in Poonthura in Thiruvananthapuram. She said that rescue operations are happening at a better level than the Tsunami tragedy Period. <br/><br/>She further requested not to suspect the integrity of the forces involved in the operations, as all humanly possibly measures will be taken and further asked to cooperate with the relief operations. <br/><br/>Ms Sitharaman also said that the technology predicting the natural calamity including cyclone is not that advanced, and as there is a long way to go in the same, there is no need to argue over the warning. <br/><br/>The Minister said that such a massive cyclone had occurred for the first time in last 100 years in this region and assured that the operations will continue till the last missing fisherman is rescued. <br/><br/>Presently, a high level meeting of Union Defence Minister, Chief Minister, MPs, MLA, Navy and armed force officers, coast guards, state police , district authorities, etc is on going in Thiruvananthapuram to take stock of the ongoing relief operations and damage occurred.