An Indian has been killed and four others from the country were reported missing in the Cyclone Gonu that lashed Oman on Wednesday.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An Indian has died and 8 are missing after cyclone hit Oman causing widespread destruction on Wednesday.
The dead person has been identified as Prakash of of Calicut, Kerala, External Affairs Ministry said here on Thursday.
Among the missing, four are from Kerala and three from Andra Pradesh. One is from Punjab.
The missing people have been identified as Dharmarajan (Andhra), Sajit Kumar (Calicut, Kerala), Udayan (Guruvayur, Kerala), Sreenu (Andhra), Sami (Andhra), Mohd Ali (Ernakulam, Kerala) and Binu (Ernakulam, Kerala).
The name of the missing person from Punjab is not known yet, the Ministry said.
The Sultanate hosts 3.86 lakh Indians and the government here said it is trying to ascertain about their safety.
Oman Royal Police spokesman Abdullah al-Harthi earlier said at least 12 people were killed in the Gonu cyclone that hit Oman's coastal areas. He did not provide further details.
Supercyclone 'Gonu', with winds up to 170 kilometers per hour slammed into Oman's eastern coast and waves up to 12 meters high lashed out at the coastal towns.
Local government in Oman has established a casualty bureau where the dead and injured are being tracked and further information is expected to be available from there later.
Two round-the-clock control rooms have been set up -- one in External Affairs Ministry here and another in the Indian Embassy in Muscat -- to help Indian nationals in Oman.
The control room number in Delhi is 011-23015300. The fax number is 011-23018158.
Meanwhile, Non-Resident Keralites Affairs Department (Norka) has also set up a Help Desk could be contacted on telephone numbers: 0471-2518182, 2518061, they added.
Also Read:
• Control rooms for Indian nationals in cyclone-hit Oman
• Oman says cyclone kills 12
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}