The Congress party today cancelled Rahul Gandhi’s mega rally at Shankumukham beach in Thirvananthapuram that was scheduled to be held on Friday as a deep depression over the South-West Bay of Bengal in the Comorin area snowballed into a cyclonic storm 'Ockhi' on Thursday morning and is expected to cause moderate to heavy rainfall in the southern parts of India in the next 24 hours.
Kerala Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala took to Facebook to announce that the rally to be addressed by Rahul Gandhi has been postponed. The new date will be announced later. The rally was supposed to mark the culmination of Padayorukkam (readying for the battle), Congress’s month-long road show led by Chennithala.
Meanwhile, Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP, Shashi Tharoor posted on Twitter a video from the rally site at Shankumuham beach.
“ Video from the rally site at Shankumukham Beach today. But weather can't dampen the spirits of the @INCIndia workers who will welcome Ramesh @chennithala at Balaramapuram, Neyyattinkara &Vellarada for rallies this afternoon,” said Tharoor.
According to reports, the cyclonic storm occurred 60 km south of Kanyakumari and 120 km south-west of Thiruvananthapuram.
The system is very likely to barrel west-northwestwards towards the Lakshadweep Islands and intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours.
In its wake, authorities have warned of rainfall in most parts of the southern peninsula, as heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated place are very likely over south Tamil Nadu, south Kerala, and Lakshadweep Islands.
