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

Cuddalore received 8 cm, Nagapattinam 5 cm and neighbouring Puducherry and Karaikkal 5 cm each up to 5.30 am Friday

(1) Severe cyclonic storm Gaja crossed Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast between Nagapattinam and Vedaranniyam ...with wind speed of 100-110 kmph gusting up to 120 kmph, early Friday. (2) Though the center of cyclone is over land, rear sector of eye wall is still over sea. It will take sometime to move over land. (3) The severe cyclonic storm is very likely to move nearly westwards and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm during the next six hours. (4) During the cyclone's landfall, rains lashed Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, and Thanjavur, uprooting trees in several regions. (5) Electricity supply was disconnected in Nagapattinam and in several other coastal regions in view of the cyclone's landfall. (6) Four teams each of National Disaster Response Force personnel have been already deployed in Nagapattinam district while two teams of the state disaster response force in Cuddalore district. (7) The government has announced helpline numbers 1070 (state-level) and 1077 (districts) for those who may need assistance.