Govt evacuates over 12,300 people from low-lying areas, declares holiday for edu institutions
Tamil Nadu government has evacuated over 12,300 people from the low-lying areas in the vulnerable districts including Nagapattinam to the relief camps after cyclone Gaja intensified into a severe cyclonic storm and was expected make landfall in Southern Tamil Nadu coast on Thursday night.
"Cyclonic storm Gaja lay centred at about 125 km east-south east of Nagapattinam at 7:50 pm and was likely to cross the coast between Cuddalore and Pamban by late night on Thursday with wind speed of 90-100 kilometre per hour gusting to 110 kmph," the Meteorological Department said.
In a bulletin issued at 7:50 pm on Thursday, the Met department said, "Outer band of the system has already entered coast and rainfall has commenced over coastal areas of Tamil Nadu. Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph prevails along and off Tamil Nadu coast."
Until Thursday evening most of the vulnerable district — Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram — did not receive much rain. Chennai witnessed sporadic spell of rains.
So far, 12,398 people have been shifted to relief centres in the state including 10,692 in Nagapattinam district. Efforts are on to evacuate all those living in low-lying areas to relief centres in the vulnerable districts, Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar said.
A holiday has been declared for educational institutions in seven districts, and the government has advised private firms, and establishments to send back their employees early so that they could reach their homes before 4 pm.
Bus service have also been suspended from 6 pm of Thursday to 6 am of Friday as a precautionary measure.
As the sea was rough, police have been advised to intensify efforts to bar people from going near beaches to witness the cyclone or click selfies. Four teams each of National Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in Nagapattinam district while two teams of the state disaster response force in Cuddalore district, officials said.
Due to cyclone, many universities have cancelled the exams. Anna University, Pondicherry University and Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN) have cancelled their exams for all the courses that were supposed to be held on November 15, 2018.
In Puducherry, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy reviewed the preparations by various departments of the union territory government to meet the situation and expressed satisfaction. Agriculture Minister R Kamalakannan was camping in Karaikal, about 20 km from Nagapattinam, he said adding relief centres had been opened in the areas likely to be impacted by the cyclone.
In view of the cyclone, the Southern Railway announced the cancellation of four trains, including three from here to destinations in Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Thanjavur districts, scheduled for departure Thursday.
Precautionary measures
- A holiday has been declared for educational institutions in seven vulnerable districts.
- Government has advised private firms to send back their employees early.
- Police are to intensify efforts to bar people from going near beaches to see the cyclone or click selfies.
- Several universities have cancelled their exams in view of the approaching cyclone.
){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}
 "Cyclone Gaja in Chennai")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}