Cyclone Gaja, which turned into a severe cyclonic storm on Thursday, made landfall between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam in the early hours of Friday.

According to initial reports, the coastal areas of the district from Nagapattinam to Point Calimere bore the brunt of Gaja's wrath.

Helpline numbers

The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority has opened district-level helpline 1077 for people to contact in case of emergency. The body's State helpline 1070 is also in use.

Emergency contact numbers for the districts are:

Nagapattinam - 9443500728, 9843810579, 9003322566

Cuddalore - 04142-220700

Tiruvarur - 04366-226623

Pudukottai - 04322-222207

Thanjavur - 04362-230121

Ramanathapuram - 04567-230060

Here are the live updates:

Tamil Nadu Revenue Minister R.B. Udhayakumar to mediapersons that relief operations are being taken on a war-footing. Mr. Udhayakumar said the damage caused by the cyclone is being ascertained. "CM will issue a detailed report," he added.

Seven more deaths

Heavy rains accompanied by strong wind claimed the lives of seven more persons in Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts on Friday.

Six persons died at Adiramapattinam,  Thiruchitrambalam, Orathanadu, Melattur and Peravurani due to wall collapse, uprooting of trees and collapse of asbestos sheet roof. A three year old boy at Adiramapattinam and a woman at Peravurani were among the dead.

In Tiruvarur district, a portion of a building collapsed causing the death of V. Kanaga (45) at Needamangalam, said police sources.  With these, the death toll in Cyclone Gaja related incidents in the delta has risen to 11.

Cylone update

 

As per the 9:10 am IMD bulletin, Gaja has weakened in to cyclonic storm and is stationed about 95 km west of Athirampattinam and 110 km NE of Kodaikanal with wind speed of 65-75 kmph gusting to 85 kmph.

It is likely to move nearly westwards and weaken into a deep depression in the next six hours.

No power supply in Karaikkal

 

Cyclone Gaja has caused severe damage to Karaikal. Several houses in coastal areas have been damaged and the power supply has been completely disrupted. Hundreds of people have been shifted to relief camps.

Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanaswamy is scheduled to visit the affected areas later in the day.

 Rains continue in southern districts

 

After cyclone Gaja made landfall around midnight, there has been widespread rain in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu.

There was a small landslide over a stretch between Kodaikanal and Palani ghat section. Poles and a couple of trees had been uprooted. Dindigul District Collector T. G. Vinay told The Hindu that rains continued and as a precaution, power has been disconnected. Many low lying areas were inundated.

Power connection has been switched off in several places as a precautionary measure.

 

Two killed in Cuddalore

 Incessant rains accompanied by strong winds under the influence of Cyclone Gaja claimed the lives of two persons in Cuddalore district.

The victim Anandan, 40 of Kurunjipadi near Neyveli was electrocuted when he came into contact with a live electric wire, which crashed and fell down on him.

In another incident,  Ayyamal, 45 of Virudhachalam died while her husband sustained serious injuries when the wall of their house collapsed following heavy rains.

 

The Tiruchi division of Southern Railway has annonced following trains have been cancelled for the day

56115/56116 - Mayiladuthurai-Thanjavur-Mayiladuthurai Passenger

56824 - Tiruchi-Mayiladuthurai Passenger

56871/56872 - Mayiladuthurai-Thiruvarur-Mayiladuthurai Passenger

76807/76808 - Tiruchi-Manamadurai-Tiruchi passenger

76840 - Karaikkudi-Tiruchi passenger

Mysore-Mayiladuthurai Express (16232) is short terminated at Thanjavur

Ernakular-Karaikkal Express (16188) is short terminated at Thanjavur

Coimbatore-Mannargudi Express (16616) is short terminated at Thanjavur

Tiruchendur-Chennai Egmore Chendur Express (16106) is diverted via Tiruchi, Vriddhachalam, Villupuram

Tiruchi-Chennai Egmore-Tiruchi Cholan Express (16796/16795) is diverted via Tiruchi, Vriddhachalam, Villupuram

 

 

Train services hit

Three trains suffer detention midway in the Delta region.

The Rameswaram - Chennai express was detained at Thanjavur. The Mayiladuthurai-Tiruchi passenger was detained at Kumbakonam while the Tiruchendur-Chennai express was detained near Thanjavur. The Mannargudi-Tirupathi express did not leave Mannargudi this morning.

Passenger trains from Mayiladathurai to Tiruvarur and Tiruchi to Mayiladuthurai have been cancelled for the day.

The Tiruchi-Erode passenger was detained at Elamanur near Tiruchi for over 20 minutes after a tree uprooted and fell on the track. Engineering staff removed the uprooted tree and cleared the section for traffic.

Four killed in wall collapse

Four persons including three brothers  died in Thanjavur district in the early hours on Friday after a wall collapsed at their house  following heavy rains. The incident took place at Sivakollai  village in coastal Pattukottai Taluk.

The deceased were identified as Sathish (22) his younger brothers Ramesh (21) and Dinesh (19) besides another youth  by name Ayyadurai, said police sources.

According to Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority, as many as 76,290 people were evacuated from low lying areas and sheltered at over 300 relief centres in six districts including Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram and Tiruvarur.

Flights diverted

The Tiruchi-bound Air India Express flight from Sharjah has been diverted to Kochi due to heavy wind at Tiruchi.

An Indigo flight in the Chennai-Tiruchi sector was not able to land at Tiruchi airport due to heavy winds and hence flew back to Chennai.

The Tiruchi-bound Air Asia flight from Kuala Lumpur, which was to land at around 8.55 am has been diverted to Chennai.

Rainfall

Mayiladuthurai recorded a maximum of 4.5 centimetres of rain in Nagapattinam district.

Rainfall recorded in Nagapattinam District till 3:00 am (in millimeters)

Nagapattinam - 48.40

Thirupoondi      - 30.40

Talainayar       - 26.80

Vedaranyam    - 27.00

Mayiladuthurai- 45.00

Sirkali              - 31.60

Kollidam           - 33.60

Manalmedu       - 19.80

Tharangambadi- 10.50

                 Total - 273.10

               Average- 30.34

Holiday for central and southern districts

The district administration has declared holiday for schools and colleges in Madurai, Theni, Virudunagar, Tiruchi, Thoothukudi and Coimbatore districts.

Nagapattinam district, which bore the brunt of the cyclone's fury had already declared holiday for Friday the previous day itself. Holiday was declared in Thoothukudi district as well.

Gaja weakens

 

The Indian Meteorological Department released a bulletin at 4:00 am on Friday. According to the bulletin, the severe cyclonic storm ‘Gaja’ over southwest Bay of Bengal moved further west-southwestwards and crossed Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast between Nagapattinam and Vedaranniyam with wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph during 0030 to 0230 hours IST of November 16, 2018.

The IMD said Gaja is likely to move nearly westwards and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm during next six hours. "Though center of cyclone lies over land, rear sector of eye wall is still over sea. It will take about an hour to move over land," it said.

Maximum wind during landfall was reported from Atirampattinam-111 kmph (0230 IST), Nagapattinam-100 kmph (0230 IST) and Karaikal-92 kmph.

Click here to read Thursday's updates