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Gaja Kills At Least 33 across Tamil Nadu

By TWC Team

18 November, 2018

TWC India

Flooded Dindigul-Madurai Highway at Kodairoad in Tamil Nadu (K. Antony Xavier / BCCL)
Flooded Dindigul-Madurai Highway at Kodairoad in Tamil Nadu (K. Antony Xavier / BCCL)
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(Story updated at 8 am Saturday)

Gaja, which slammed into coastal Tamil Nadu in the early hours of Friday, is now a depression over the southeast Arabian Sea, about 100 km west of Kochi in Kerala. Heavy to very heavy rainfall, wind squalls gusting up to 60 kmph, and rough seas may be seen in and off Kerala and Lakshadweep over the next 24 hours, said the India Met Department (IMD).

Kerala reportedly experienced heavy rains on Friday, with reports of landslides, mudslides and other damage in Idukki district coming in. However, no casualties have been reported in Kerala due to Gaja so far.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami confirmed yesterday that the death toll from the Cyclone stands at 13. However, some unconfirmed reports put the number of deceased at over 30. Uprooted trees and wall collapses are thought to be the main causes.

However, conditions have eased in Tamil Nadu since last evening, with the IMD's Chennai office saying on Friday night that no heavy rainfall is expected in Tamil Nadu or Puducherry over the weekend. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured the state administration of all possible assistance from the Centre.

Gaja crossed the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coast between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam between 12.30 and 2.30 am Friday, and crossed into Kerala towards evening, after which it barrelled into the Arabian Sea. The India Met Department has said that Gaja is set to move westwards across the Southeast Arabian Sea over the next 48 hours. This will lead to rough seas off the coasts of Kerala and Lakshadweep; fishermen have been advised not to venture out.

Damage

Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts have borne the maximum brunt of Cyclone Gaja. According to a Times of India report, four people were killed in Thanjavur and another six in Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts. One more person was killed in Sivaganga district and one in Trichy. The cyclone has also damaged property in Vedaranyam. Rising seawater has inundated fishing hamlets in Nagapattinam, and there are reports of strong winds damaging thatched houses and uprooting trees in Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur and Pudukkottai districts. TOI also reported that power supply was suspended in many districts and it may take up to two days to restore the power supply.

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Relief work ongoing

The Tamil Nadu government has evacuated nearly 82,000 people from vulnerable areas and housed them in 471 relief centres. Health authorities have been stationed across the state to deal with emergencies and to check the spread of diseases.

According to the state power utility, about 500 km of power supply lines were affected by Gaja. Officials said it would take at least two days to restore power supply in full in districts like Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur. 

Piles of felled trees blocked traffic in parts of Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam and also blocked roads leading out of Kodaikanal, a popular tourist destination. R.B. Udhyakumar, Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, said all the trees felled by the cyclone were being removed. Around 18 teams of the NDRF and State Disaster Relief Forces are on the ground in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

The government provided two helpline numbers: 1070 (state level) and 1077 (districts) for those who may need help.

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