Severe cyclonic storm Gaja battered the Tamil Nadu coast yesterday leaving at least 13 people and several livestock dead and a trail of destruction in several districts.
Authorities said the cyclone crossed the coast between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam districts around 12.30am bearing wind with speeds of about 110-120kmph.
The strong winds ripped off the roof-sheets of the Nagapattinam railway station as well as thatched and tiled roofs of several houses.
A ship ran aground at the Karaikal Port in Puducherry. Traffic on the highways were affected due to falling trees while communication links in Vedaranyam were hit. In some places like Pudukottai walls of houses collapsed due to the rains.
Around 12,000 utility poles toppled in the storm, and 102 power sub-stations in districts like Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur were affected.
According to the state power utility, about 500kms of power supply lines were affected by Gaja. Officials said it would take at least two days to restore power in districts like Nagapattinam and Thiruvarur.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami said in Salem that 13 people had lost their lives in the cyclone. He said a sum of Rs1mn would be paid to each family of the dead. For those severely injured, Rs100,000 would be paid and those who suffered minor injuries would get Rs25,000.
About 82,000 people living in low-lying areas have been sent to 471 relief centres, the chief minister said, adding the preventive measures had helped keep the death toll low.
Relief centres were set up in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Thiruvarur on Thursday itself.
Owing to strong winds an Indigo Airlines Chennai-Trichy flight was not able to land in Trichy and had to return.
Several universities in Tamil Nadu postponed their exams slated for yesterday. Schools remained shut in Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Thiruvarur and several other districts in Tamil Nadu and in Puducherry, including Karaikal.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast scattered heavy to very heavy rains over Tiruchirapalli, Namakkal, Dindigul, Madurai, Theni, Karur, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Nilgiris and Virudhunagar districts of Tamil Nadu.
According to Palaniswami, the fisheries department will estimate the damage to the fishing boats before paying compensation to the fishermen. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Chief Minister Palaniswami and enquired about the cyclone damage.
A toppled signal lies on the road in the aftermath of cyclone Gaja in Tamil Nadu yesterday.
