Update: Cyclone Gaja claims 45 lives, relief work in full swing
The cyclone left a trail of destruction in Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Cuddalore, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts, damaging houses, huts and crops
By : migrator
Update: 2018-11-18 08:42 GMT
Chennai
Addressing reporters in his native Salem district, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday, said that the cyclone has so far claimed 45 lives across the state.
The CM has announced a relief of Rs 10 lakh as solatium to the families of the people who lost their lives in the cyclone. The government of Tamil Nadu has also announced Rs 1 lakh to those who suffered serious injuries and Rs 25,000 for those who suffered normal injuries in the disaster.
“As many as 151 cutting machines, 92 poclains and 28 lorries are involved in road clearance in Nagapattinam district,” said Revenue and Disaster Management Minister RB Udhayakumar
Health Department teams have been camping in districts and have been ensuring power supply in all GHs and PHCs, especially to prevent spread of contagious diseases.
Meanwhile, a low-pressure depression is proceeding towards North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and will reach the State's coast by 20th November, according to SDMA.
Fisheries minister D Jayakumar who visited the Akkarapettai fishing harbour in Nagapattinam, assured repairing of damaged fishing boats. “We have deputed six teams each led by a deputy director to assess the damages of mechanised boats, country boats, nets. The assessment report will be submitted in a couple of days and based on the report, compensation would be provided,” Jayakumar said.
Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam assured on Saturday that adequate compensation will be offered to farmers who have lost cattle and crops. Rs 30,000 per cattle and Rs 3,000 per goat
To restore normalcy in the Gaja-hit districts at the earliest, additional officers have been sent to affected areas to inspect and speed up recovery process.
- Around 2.49 lakh persons have been evacuated
- 493 relief camps established across the state. So far, 84,436 people have been benefited by these camps, says CM
- 103 cows and 633 goats found dead
- 56,942 huts completely damaged and 30,404 huts partially damaged
- 347 electricity transformers, 39,000 electric poles damaged
- Cyclone Gaja has uprooted 1,70,454 trees across the state
- 33,863 fallen trees have been cleared to avoid roadblocks
- 12,532 Tamil Nadu Electricity Board officials have been deployed
- 372 medical camps and 1,014 mobile medical units have been set up
- Food, drinking water, mat, bedsheets, 10 kg of rice, a dhoti and saree and a litre of kerosene offered to each family affected by the cyclone.
Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!
Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!
Click here for iOS
Click here for Android