In view of the cyclonic storm forecast to hit the Lakshadweep islands on Friday morning, the authorities cancelled Thursday’s trip of the passenger ship mv Minicoy bound for Lakshadweep.
The 150-seater vessel, which was fully booked, was to have left the Beypore port near Kozhikode by noon. The ship, which sails between the islands and Kozhikode every other day, mostly carries islanders who rely on the mainland for their everyday needs, health care and education.
Meanwhile, a cargo vessel scheduled to leave Mangaluru port for the islands on Thursday was also cancelled.
Reports from Lakshadweep said that all inter-island vessels that ferry people at regular intervals were cancelled on Thursday, thus hitting connectivity between the islands. On Minicoy Island, fishers, whose traditional marine wisdom foretells the storms, had not ventured into the sea. The fishers had decided not to put to sea at Thursday dawn. In the afternoon, across the islands, the authorities told the residents not to venture into the sea and the beaches and take all precautions against the cyclonic storm. Announcements were made on public address systems mounted on vehicles.
