Cyclone Gaja Wreaks Havoc in Tamil Nadu, Claims 33 Lives
Chennai, November 17: Cyclone Gaja which hit the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu on Friday has wreaked havoc in the state. The death toll has risen to 33. Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday, while speaking to reporters at Salem, said that 20 men, 11 women, and two children died due to the cyclone that crossed the Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam districts between 12.30 a.m. and 2.30 a.m. on Friday. The cyclone caused destruction in Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Cuddalore, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts of the southern state. Rajinikanth Draws Flak as Aid Materials Distributed to Cyclone Gaja Victims by Makkal Mandram Have Actor's Stamp on Them
Palaniswami also confirmed that about 70 livestock and several goats, poultry and deer also died due to the cyclone. Due to the strong cyclonic winds blowing at 120 kmph around 1,27,000 trees were uprooted. Meanwhile, About 177,500 people are staying in 351 relief camps in the cyclone-affected areas. The state government supplied water, milk and food to the people affected by the calamity. The Chief Minister said that about 30,000 electricity poles were broken, and 105 power sub-stations affected. The Palaniswami government has sent around 10,000 personnel to the cyclone-affected coastal districts to repair the installations.
The cyclone has now moved westwards and weakened at the depression. It further moved westwards into Kerala coast (region) and merged into Arabian Sea. Chennai, MET department has advised fishermen not to venture into the southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep area on November 17 and 18 and into the west Arabian Sea on November 18 and 19
Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday urged Home Minister Rajnath Singh to depute a team of two officers immediately to inspect the extent of damage caused by cyclone Gaja in Tamil Nadu. Chidambaram also requested the home minister to modify the practice of sending the inter-ministerial team to a disaster-affected state only after receiving a memorandum from the concerned state government.
(With agency inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 17, 2018 07:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).