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Cyclone Gaja to make landfall in TN, Puducherry today; schools, colleges shut

The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority on Thursday morning said the cyclone was likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours and then weaken gradually.

Cyclone Gaja to make landfall in TN, Puducherry today; schools, colleges shut

Representative Image (Photo: Twitter/@jnmet)

The Indian Navy was on Wednesday night put on high alert in view of cyclone Gaja approaching the coast of south Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, officials said.

The cyclonic storm which lay over the Bay of Bengal is set to make landfall between Cuddalore and Pamban, bringing heavy rainfall to Tamil Nadu.

The weather department said wind speed of 80 to 90 km per hour is expected. The cyclone is currently 380 km south-east of Chennai and 400 km northeast of Nagapattinam.

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Indian Navy officials said the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) assumed a high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance as the cyclone was poised to cross the coast on Thursday evening.

“Two Indian Navy ships—Ranvir and Khanjar—are standing by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake humanitarian aid and distress relief,” said a Navy official.

He said these ships would have divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats, integral helicopters and relief material on board.

The official said helicopters and Dornier and one P8I aircraft were on standby to undertake reconnaissance, rescue and casualty evacuation missions.

The Tamil Nadu government has already kept 30,500 rescue personnel declaring that 30,500 on standby.

Meanwhile, the district collectors of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Ramanathapuram declared a holiday for schools and colleges on Thursday.

All educational institutions in Puducherry and Karaikal regions would remain closed on Thursday in view of Gaja’s imminent landfall.

The government has deployed around 15 disaster response teams.

Against the backdrop of the Central Water Commission advising constant vigil over dams, Tamil Nadu Revenue Minister R.B. Udayakumar told reporters that dams, lakes and rivers channels were being monitored continuously.

The CWC had advised action as per the standard operating procedure as heavy rainfall in catchment areas could fill up the dams fast in less than 24 hours.

Udayakumar said mobile operators had assured to move ‘cell on wheels’ mobile platforms to provide uninterrupted mobile connectivity to Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts, which were likely to witness the maximum impact from Gaja during landfall.

The government also held discussions with oil-marketing companies and they had been advised to maintain sufficient fuel stock for the aftermath of Gaja, he said.

While reiterating caution to fishermen to not venture into the sea, Udayakumar said a comprehensive list of do’s and don’ts had been circulated to the people on the eve of the arrival of Gaja.

The Met office had warned storm surges of about 1.0 metres were likely to inundate low-lying areas of Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal district of Puducherry at the time of landfall of Gaja.

The IMD also cautioned about major damage to thatched huts. Rooftops may blow off and communication and power lines may be affected, it had said, adding standing crops could also be hit besides water intrusion in low-lying areas.

The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority on Thursday morning said the cyclone was likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm in the next 12 hours and then weaken gradually.

(With PTI inputs)

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