Cyclone Gaja hits TN coast, 11 dead, Centre assures assistance

November 16, 2018:

On Friday, the severe cyclonic storm ‘Gaja’ crossed the Tamil Nadu coast b/w Nagapattinam & Vedaranniyam early in the morning with wind speeds gusting up to 120 kmph.

So far, the cyclone has claimed 11 lives across Tamil Nadu.

CM Palaniswami has announced a solatium of ₹10 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund for the families of the deceased. He also said that relief work will be taken up on a war-footing and that the work was already underway.

The severe cyclonic storm is likely to move nearly westwards and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm, the latest bulletin released by IMD stated.

As many as 81,948 people were evacuated from low lying areas and sheltered at over 471 relief centres in six districts including Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram and Tiruvarur.

The weather department earlier recommended complete suspension of fishing operations along the coasts of north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining Andhra Pradesh.

Government has also announced helpline numbers 1070 (state-level) & 1077 (districts) for those who may need assistance.