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23 killed in cyclonic storm Gaja in Tamil Nadu; Modi assures all possible help from Centre

A severe cyclonic storm, Gaja, battered the Tamil Nadu coast, particularly Nagapattinam, on Friday, leaving about 23 people dead and causing widespread destruction.

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A severe cyclonic storm, Gaja, battered the Tamil Nadu coast, particularly Nagapattinam, on Friday, leaving about 23 people dead and causing widespread destruction.

The meteorological department authorities said the cyclone crossed the coast near Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district between 12.30 am and 2.30 am of Friday with heavy rain combined with wind speeds of about 110-120 kmph. Atirampattinam in Thanjavur district recorded maximum wind speed of 117 kmph while Nagapattinam town witnessed 100 kmph.

The cyclonic storm has left a trail of destruction in the coastal areas of Nagapattinam - Vedaranyam and Kodiyakarai and it remains cut off with the uprooted trees and electricity poles blocking vehicle movement. Besides communication links also affected.

Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that relief and rescue operations would be undertaken on a war-footing to help people resume their normal life in cyclone-hit areas.

He announced that the families of the deceased will be provided a solatium of Rs 10 lakh each from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund (CMPRF). For those severely injured, a sum of Rs 100,000 would be paid and those who suffered minor injuries would get Rs 25,000.

Out of the 23 deaths reported across the state, ten people were killed in the cyclone and rain-related incidents Thanjavur, four in Tiruvarur, three in Pudukkottai, two in Trichy and one in Nagapattinam, two deaths were reported in Cuddalore and one in Tiruvannamalai. Officials said that death toll might go up as the worst affected Vedaranyam and Kodiyakarai still remain cut off.

About 82,000 people living in low-lying areas have been sent to 471 relief centres, the Chief Minister said, adding the preventive measures helped keep the death toll low.

Palaniswami said that seven-team of National Disaster Response Force personnel and four teams of State Disaster Management Force were involved in the relief and rescue operations. He said that preliminary estimates reveal that about 13,000 electricity poles and 5000 trees were uprooted by the gusty winds.

Electricity Minister Thangamani said that 11,371 workers including 3400 persons from unaffected districts were deployed to help restore power supply in nine districts that were affected by cyclone Gaja.

S Balachandran, the deputy director of IMD Chennai said that after making the landfall, the cyclonic storm moved interior of Tamil Nadu and weakened into a deep depression and then to depression. Parts of interior Tamil Nadu including Dindigul, Kodaikanal and Theni district witnessed heavy rains combined with gusty winds. The hill town Kodaikanal remains cutoff with the uprooted trees blocking the ghat roads.

Several universities in Tamil Nadu have postponed their exams slated for Friday. Schools remained closed on Friday in Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Thiruvarur and several other districts in Tamil Nadu and in Puducherry, including Karaikal.

Expressing grief, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he prays for the quick recovery of those injured. "My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives due to cyclonic conditions in parts of Tamil Nadu. I pray for the quick recovery of those injured. Officials are working towards providing all possible assistance in the wake of the cyclone," he said.

Modi also said that he spoke to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru Edappadi K. Palaniswami regarding the situation arising due to cyclone conditions in the state and assured all possible help from the Centre.  

Stalin lauds TN disaster management officials efforts to tackle cyclone

DMK president M K Stalin lauded the Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority for its efforts to tackle the severe cyclonic storm ‘Gaja,’ that has crossed the state’s coast.

“Tamil Nadu has been affected by a cyclone again and this time ‘Gaja.’ The way the @tnsdma (Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority) took preparatory efforts (to tackle the cyclone) is praiseworthy. The rulers (AIADMK government) should extend cooperation for the continuous relief works. It is necessary for the government machinery to act with the speed of a storm in taking up relief work,” Stalin, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly tweeted.

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