Cyclone Gaja claims 13 lives, rips through Tamil Nadu coast with heavy rain

Winds gusting upto 120 kmph uprooted trees, snapped cyclone-related and blew off roofing-sheets

Cyclone Gaja ripped through Nagapattinam early Friday uprooting trees and snapping power lines leaving a trail of destruction in coastal districts besides claiming 13 lives and flooding standing crops.The cyclonic storm crossed Tamil Nadu’s coast between Nagapattinam and nearby Vedaranyam early hours Friday, bringing in heavy rains in the coastal regions, according to a weather bulletin.

Click Here —BUSINESS STANDARD OR BS

Winds gusting upto 120 kmph uprooted trees, snapped cyclone-related and blew off roofing-sheets. According to officials, ten men and three women died and 28 head of cattle perished in cyclone related incidents despite authorities evacuating as many as 81,948 people to 471 relief centres in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Pudukottai and Tiruvarur districts.

The storm caused heavy damage to the 16th century Shrine Basilica at Velankanni in Nagapattinam district. Due to gusty winds, the rood cross on top of the church broke and fell, Church authorities said. The church is built in accordance with Gothic architecture. Authorities said the 75-ft tall stone statue of Jesus erected in front of the ‘Morning Star Church’ in the town, sustained structural damage.Read More

Cyclone storm Gaja to cross between Pamban and Cuddalore on Nov 15

The weather department has advised total suspension of fishing operations along and off north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry

Latest News|The cyclonic storm Gaja over the Bay of Bengal is expected to cross Tamil Nadu coast between Pamban and Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu on November 15, said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).IMD’s Tuesday update stated that the cyclonic storm over west central and adjoining east-central and south Bay of Bengal moved westwards with a speed of five kmph during past six hours.

At 5.30 am on Tuesday, Gaja lay centred over Westcentral and adjoining Eastcentral and South Bay of Bengal near latitude 13.2 degree N and longitude 87.2 degrees E, about 750 km east of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 840 km east-northeast[Gaja Cyclone] of Nagappattinam (Tamil Nadu). “It is very likely to intensify further into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 24 hours and maintain the intensity during subsequent 24 hours. It is likely to move west-southwestwards,” IMD said.

While moving west-southwestwards, Gaja is likely to weaken gradually on November 15 and cross Tamil Nadu coast between Pamban and Cuddalore as a Cyclonic Storm on November 15, the weather bulletin said. The weather department has advised total suspension of fishing operations along and off north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts between November 13-15.

Business Standard OR BS