India: Relief in cyclone Thane hit areas on war footing; toll now 42

Chennai, Dec 31 (PTI) Relief operations were launched on a war-footing to bring back normalcy in cyclone Thane battered Cuddalore district of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the adjacent Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry), as the toll caused by the severe storm mounted to 42 today. As the administrative machinery was put in top gear, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said nine more people have died in rain related incidents, taking the toll to 42, following the severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal that crossed the Tamil Nadu coast yesterday. She said five people were killed in Cuddalore, the worst affected district, three in Kancheepuram and one in Theni. She also announced a solatium of Rupees 200,000 (USD 4,000 approx) each to those killed. Thane, packed with wind speeds of upto 140 kmph, claimed 33 lives and wreaked havoc, particularly in Cuddalore and Puducherry, leaving around 20,000 people homeless on Friday. Parts of Cuddalore district wore a battered look with hundreds of uprooted trees and electric posts strewn across roads. Essential items like milk became scarce while officials started supply of drinking water through 60 tankers. Tamil Nadu Rural Industries Minister M C Sampath, overseeing relief operations, said normalcy would be restored in a couple of days in Cuddalore district. District Collector V Amudhavalli said five senior officials are supervising relief work and assessing damage caused by the cyclone, which has since moved out of the Bay of Bengal and weakened into a well marked low pressure over the Arabian Sea. Puducherry, which remained cut-off from adjoining districts in Tamil Nadu, is fast returning to normal with road and rail traffic resuming today, officials said. Work is on to clear interior roads in the city and suburbs scattered with uprooted trees and electric poles, while power is being restored in phases, they said. PTI