Cyclone Gaja live updates: 33 killed, Navy pressed into action for relief work

It's expected that Gaja Cyclone will make landfall late night today, may be in South of Cuddalore, in Nagapattinam district. People should be well-prepared. Govt is making its best efforts in this regard: Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Special Officer for Disaster Management.

Eastern Naval Command (ENC) has assumed a high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance as the cyclone is poised to cross the coast of the two states on Thursday evening.

The mobile telephone companies also assured the government of moving their mobile telecom towers or cell on wheels to Nagapattinam and Cuddalore.

The MeT has advised total suspension of fishing operations along Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during the next 24 hours till Friday.

Collector Cuddalore Thiru. V. Anbuselvan and Disaster Managment Incharge Gagandeep Singh Bedi hold a review meeting.

In Nagapattinam, 9 multipurpose disaster relief centres and 22 cyclone shelters have been kept ready, said the district collector.

A total of 135 special teams comprising 633 officials have been deployed to take care of various tasks across Tiruvarur district.

Cyclone Gaja status

The government has set up control rooms (1070 or 1077 or 1031) to enable the people to seek assistance in case of eventualities. People seeking assistance can reach the police department (100), fire and rescue services personnel (101), emergency services (108), electricity department (1912), transport department (1073) and coast guard (1554).

The Madurai division of Southern Railway has announced full and partial cancellation of eight trains each from and to Rameswaram as a precaution in view of Cyclone Gaja.

Latest visuals of cyclone Gaja

Helicopters, Dornier aircraft and one P8I aircraft are on standby to undertake reconnaissance, rescue and casualty evacuation

The ships will have additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats, integral helicopters and relief material on board.

"Two Indian Naval ships -- Ranvir and Khanjar -- are standing by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake humanitarian aid and distress relief," said a Navy official.

The Indian Navy has been put on high alert in view of cyclone Gaja approaching the coast of south Tamil Nadu and Puducherry,

The IMD also cautioned about major damage to thatched huts. "Roof tops may blow off," and communication and power lines may be affected it had said adding standing crops could also be hit besides water intrusion in low lying areas

The Met office had warned storm surge of about 1.0 metres likely to inundate low-lying areas of Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai and Ramanathapuram districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal district of Puducherry at the time of landfall.