76,000 EVACUATED AS CYCLONE GAJA BATTERS TAMIL NADU ; HERE'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

The cyclonic storm 'Gaja' passed the coast of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the early hours of November 16. As preparedness, the state was put on high alert, and about 76,000 people have been evacuated.

With wind speeds of up to 120 kmph, the cyclone crossed the Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Vedaranniyam. According to PTI, people were evacuated from low lying areas and sheltered at over 300 relief centres in six districts including Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram and Tiruvarur.

The MeT department issued a bulletin at 3:15 am, saying that though the center of cyclone is over land, rear sector of eye wall is still over sea. "It will take about an hour to move over land," it added.

During the cyclone's landfall, rains lashed Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, and Thanjavur, uprooting trees in several regions. Four teams each from the National Disaster Relief Force and its counterpart in the state are working in Nagapattinam. 9,000 first responders are also working to rescue people.

Schools and colleges remain shut today. Offices and business establishments have been asked to relieve employees early.

The cyclone is very likely to move nearly westwards and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm during next six hours, said the IMD.