Cyclone Ockhi on Tuesday barrelled towards the Gujarat coast, where it is likely to make a landfall post midnight forcing several political bigwigs, including BJP chief Amit Shah and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, to cancel their rallies in the poll-bound State. Rahul, however, addressed a rally in Kutch, but called off three campaign meetings planned in Morbi, Dhrangadhra and Surendranagar town.
As many as 39 people have perished and 167 fishermen are still missing after cyclone Ockhi hit Tamil Nadu and Kerala coasts, said the Union Home Ministry on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to BJP workers to extend a helping hand to the victims of the cyclone Ockhi.