Gaja Cyclone: Death toll reaches 45; protests erupt over relief

In Tamil Nadu, at many places affected by the cyclone, people went on a rampage, protesting alleged failure of officials to provide them relief.

The cyclone left a trail of destruction in Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Cuddalore, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts, damaging houses, huts and crops.PTI Photo

New Delhi: The death toll in the massive Gaja cyclone that crossed Tamil Nadu on Friday, escalated to 45 as protests erupted in some parts of the state over alleged inefficiency of the relief work being undertaken. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami confirmed the figure on Sunday and called on all the political parties to join in the relief efforts. In some districts however, people protested over an alleged failure to provide assistance to the affected people. In the worst-hit Vedaranyam town on Sunday, more people sought refuge in the 60 cyclone relief  centres, leading to shortage of relief materials in some places. A report from Pudukottai said people in Kotthamangalam village affected by the cyclone went on a rampage, protesting alleged failure of officials to provide them relief and set ablaze five government vehicles and clashed with police. A Deputy Superintendent of Police was injured as the crowd clashed with the police after heated exchange while blocking road traffic protesting the officials' 'indifference', police said. Sixty people were arrested in connection with the violence, they said. In Thanjavur, traffic was blocked by residents to protest the alleged failure to provide any relief to those affected by 'Gaja', which caused destruction in the districts of Cuddalore, Nagapattinam Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Tiruvarur districts in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in neighbouring Puducherry. Palaniswami however denied reportd that officials were not visting the state areas and said false messages were being spread. He informed that 1.7 lakh tress  had been uprooted, 735 cattle died, 1.17 lakh houses damaged and 88,102 hectare agricultural land affected in six districts .