As many as 218 fishermen from Kerala, stranded in the sea off the coast due to inclement weather conditions triggered by cyclone Ockhi, were brought safely to the shore on Friday, even as the death toll rose to seven in the state. Cyclone Ockhi, which in Bengali means 'eye', on Friday intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and moved to the Arabian Sea. It lay centered about 80 km north-northeast of Minicoy in Lakshadweep.

A fisherman being taken to a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram after being rescued by defence personnel from the sea. Pic/PTI