Countdown begins for Gaja landfall

While all measures are in place to ensure safety of people and minimise damage to property, several coastal districts that will come under the attack of cyclone have declared holiday for educational institutions in their respective regions. As a precautionary measure, officials have shifted people in low-lying and rain vulnerable areas to safety.

Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Treasuries and Accounts ‘Tenkasi’ S Jawahar, who has been appointed as the monitoring officer for Nagapattinam district, visited the Collectorate on Wednesday and held a discussion meeting with officials and listed out several instructions of how to tackle the cyclonic storm. Emphasising the need for authenticated communication on the real time status of the weather to people, he appealed to the public to be constantly updated by listening radio, television and watch out for reports in newspapers for the next few days.

After the meeting, Jawahar inspected the vulnerable spots with Collector S Suresh Kumar and other officials. He urged the public to pass on information when they spot damaged or severed power lines. People from around 38 villages were evacuated to safer places in Nagapattinam.

In Thanjavur, Collector A Annadurai said seven teams have been formed to attend to any emergency. The teams will coordinate precautionary measures, carry out search and rescue operations, arranging shelters, food and transportation. Besides these, teams to monitor and manage water ways, to disseminate information to the public and for monitoring public health and drainage management have also been set up, he added.

Five teams each have been formed in all the 27 coastal villages in the district. Four disaster rescue teams with 66 trained police personnel and 161 fire fighter-cum-rescue personnel have been deployed in vulnerable areas. As many as 24 boats have also been kept ready, he added. Besides, ambulances from Red Cross, private operators have also placed on standby.

As many as 22 cyclone shelters, including 14 multi-purpose shelters and 28 relief centres, are kept ready to accommodate rain-hit residents.

K Manivasan, the Principal Secretary of Social Welfare department and the monitoring officer for Tiruvarur district, held a detailed discussion with the officials, including Collector L Nirmal Raj. Totally, 135 teams have been formed to meet the exigencies. Sixty-two police personnel, 12 home guards, 22 fire service personnel trained in swimming will carry out rescue and relief operations, wherever necessary. Besides 3,180 trained responders have also been identified.

In view of the Gaja cyclone, Bharathidasan University has postponed the semester exams that were scheduled on Thursday (November 15). An alternate date would be announced later, said the Controller of Examination Durai Arasan.