Chennai, November 16: Cyclone Gaja which made landfall between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam on the Tamil Nadu at the early hours of Friday has claimed 20 lives so far across the state. According to a government release, the cyclonic storm is very likely to move nearly westwards and weaken further into a depression during the next 6 hours and into a well low-pressure area during the subsequent 12 hours.

The cyclone uprooted hundreds of trees, electric poles across several places. The coastal areas of the district from Nagapattinam district to Point Calimere was the worst hit. Tamil Nadu CM E Palaniswamy on Friday announced Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased, 1 lakh rupees to those severely injured & 25 thousand to those who received minor injuries. Cyclone Gaja: Home Minister Rajnath Singh Assures Central Help To Tamil Nadu Government. 

In wake of the weather conditions, nearly 81,948 people were evacuated from low lying areas and sheltered at over 471 relief centres in six districts including Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram and Tiruvarur. The state government of Tamil Nadu has announced helpline numbers 1070 (state-level) and 1077 (districts) for those who may need assistance. Cyclone Gaja: Railways Cancels Trains as Storm Makes Landfall in Coastal Tamil Nadu.

Cyclone Gaja Forecast till November 17:

Date/Time(IST) Position (Lat. 0N/ long. 0E) Maximum sustained surface wind speed (Kmph) Category of cyclonic disturbance
16.11.18/1130 10.5/77.6 50-60 gusting to 70 Deep Depression
16.11.18/1730 10.6/76.5 40-50 gusting to 60 Depression
16.11.18/2330 10.7/75.4 35-45 gusting to 55 Depression
17.11.18/0530 10.8/74.3 20-30 gusting to 40 Well Marked Low

Rainfall and wind activity:

  • Rainfall at most places with heavy falls at a few places and very heavy at isolated places over south interior Tamil Nadu and heavy falls at isolated places over north interior Tamil Nadu during next 24 hours.

  • Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Kerala during the next 24 hours.

  • Rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places very likely over Lakshadweep on 17 Nov, 2018.

  • Squally wind speed 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph very likely over interior Tamil Nadu. Strong wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph very likely along & off Kerala coast from 16th November evening for subsequent 48 hours.

The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority (TNSDMA) on Friday issued a warning to all the fishermen in the state for the next 24 hours.  It has said winds will blow at speeds ranging from 30-40kmph to 50kmph over the southeast Arabian Sea, along the Kerala coast, Comorian area and Gulf of Mannar. The fishermen are advised not to venture into the Arabian Sea along & off Kerala coast from 16th November evening for subsequent 48 hours. A red alert has been issued in the southern states of India, and precautionary steps are being taken to meet the situation.

Meanwhile, Kerala Cheif Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to Twitter and said cyclonic storm Gaja is likely to cause downpour in most districts in the State. The districts of Malappuram, Kollam and in between districts are likely to experience strong winds with speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 16, 2018 07:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).