Severe cyclonic storm 'Gaja' hits Tamil Nadu, 12 dead

A holiday has been declared for educational institutions in Nagapattinam.

Ruckus created by Cyclone Gaja in Tamil Nadu/ ANI IMAGE

Nagapattinam (TN): The severe cyclonic storm 'Gaja' crossed the Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and nearby Vedaranniyam early Friday with wind speed gusting up to 120 kmph, a weather bulletin said. The cyclone has claimed 12 lives so far, whereas as per Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority, as many as 85,000 people have been evacuated from low lying areas and sheltered at over 300 relief centres in six districts including Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram and Tiruvarur. The government has announced a compensation of Rs 10lakh from CM relief fund to the families who have lost their loved ones. A holiday has been declared for educational institutions in Nagapattinam here, as maximum damage has been reported here. An India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin said, "severe cyclonic storm Gaja crossed Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast between Nagapattinam and Vedaranniyam ...with wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting up to 120 kmph, early Friday." "Though the center of cyclone is over land, rear sector of eye wall is still over sea. It will take about an hour to move over land," the IMD bulletin issued at 3.15 AM said. However, Deputy Director General of Meteorology S Balachandran told PTI, the cyclone will take another two hours to fully cross the coast. The severe cyclonic storm is very likely to move nearly westwards and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm during the next six hours, the IMD said. During the cyclone's landfall, rains lashed Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, and Thanjavur, uprooting trees in several regions, the details of which is expected later in the day.

Tamil Nadu: Trees uprooted and houses damaged in Nagapattinam in the overnight rainfall and strong winds which hit the town. #GajaCyclone pic.twitter.com/9ObvcqJlDD

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Electricity supply was disconnected here and in several other coastal regions in view of the cyclone's landfall. Four teams each of National Disaster Response Force personnel have been already deployed in Nagapattinam district while two teams of the state disaster response force in Cuddalore district, officials said Thursday. The state disaster management authority had released an animated video aimed at creating awareness on the do's and don'ts during cyclone. The government has announced helpline numbers 1070 (state-level) and 1077 (districts) for those who may need assistance.