Pudukai pummelled as cyclone changes course, 7 killed

Seven persons lost their lives and around 450 fishing boats, including 200 mechanised boats were damaged in the district.

The case was similar to almost all the residents in Pudukkottai, with knee high water in the town and the winds uprooted around 500 EB posts and damaged around 300 houses.

According to sources, Pudukkottai was heavily hit and in most of the key routes, transport was suspended as all the main roads were blocked with uprooted trees. Though the district administration was ready with precautionary measures, the people initially were least bothered as the district was not in the path of the cyclonic storm.

The sea receded for around 100 metres when the strong wind blew around 5 am on Friday. The boats, though in safe places collided with each other when the wind speed rose to 110kmph at Jagathapattinam coastal village. Heavy downpour was witnessed in places like Gandharvakottai from Thursday night itself. 

Meanwhile, the houses in areas like Ponnamaravathi, Alangudi, Karambakudi, Gandharvakottai and Keeranur were damaged. Mango, jackfruit and banana trees were uprooted in Alangudi, Kothamangalam, Neduvasal and Vadakadu villages.

In the meantime, Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar, who was monitoring the situation in Chennai rushed to his home district of Pudukkottai. On his way, Vijaya Baskar was giving instructions to the officials, party cadre and other volunteers engaged in rescue operations. Still, traffic was not restored till late evening. With numerous cell phone towers uprooted by the cyclone communication was extremely affected in the district.