Cyclone Gaja to intensify again, likely to hit Lakshadweep

After Cyclone Gaja made landfall on Friday in Tamil Nadu and killed at least 36 people, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday said it will re-intensify into a cyclonic storm and is likely to hit the Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep area in the next 12 hours.

"Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph is prevailing over Southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep area. It is very likely to gradually increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 70-80 kmph gusting to 90 kmph during next 24 hours," the IMD said in its official release.

The weather department also said that "extremely heavy" rainfall is likely to occur at isolated places over Lakshadweep in the next 24 hours.

On Friday night, Cyclone Gaja made a landfall in Tamil Nadu between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam leaving behind a trail of destruction and claiming at least 36 lives. The severe cyclone had a wind speed of above 90 to 100 kmph and reached up to 110 kmph when the eye of the storm made the landfall at 1.40 am in Nagapattinam.

Besides the loss of lives, 1471 huts were partially damaged and 216 fully destroyed. In total, 471 relief camps have been established where 81,948 people have been accommodated.

The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the deceased, Rs 1 lakh to those severely injured and Rs 25,000 to those who received minor injuries.

The cyclone also caused 13,000 transformers to fall down and 5000 trees were uprooted.

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