Officials shift thousands to safety shelters in dists on Gaja’s radar

According to sources, though the cyclone has moved into the plains, it is likely to be active causing heavy precipitation in several parts in central districts and some interior pockets of the state.

 While rains lashed many areas in and around Nagapattinam district and neighbouring Karaikal, downpour started gathering pace at Thondi, Rameswaram and Pamban in Ramanathapuram district approximately after 9.30 pm.

However, the state machinery, which made all arrangements to tackle the cyclone fury, shifted several thousands of people to safety as a precautionary measure ahead of the Gaja’s landfall.

Officials, who were working round-the-clock to ensure safety of people, went on rounds to relief camps in Samanthampettai, Velipalayam and Therkupoigainallur. Handlooms and Textiles Minister OS Manian personally inspected fishing hamlets and villages like Vilunthamavadi, Kameswaram, Velankanni, Seruthur, and Akkaraipettai.

 Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until officials lowered the cages from the port offices. Shops were shut in most parts of Nagapattinam from 5 pm and there was a mad rush in petrol bunks around 3 pm.

 Meanwhile, P Vairavanathan, the coordinator of National Disaster Response Force, said, “We have brought 25 people from our force to the district, in addition to the exiting 75. Currently, 75 people have been sent to Vedaranyam and 25 have been sent to Sirkazhi”, he said. Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, and Pudukkottai, declared holiday for all educational institutions on Friday also.

Regional Deputy Director of Fisheries in Ramanathapuram E Kathavarayan said it rained moderately for an hour after 9.30 pm. 

As many as 770 persons of various coastal hamlets in the district had been accommodated in nine relief shelters in Ramnad. Except for mild showers in SP Pattinam and Thiruvadanai, wind pattern and tidal waves were normal until 9 pm Ten first responders had been deputed in each of the villages to monitor the situation.

Distant cautionary warning signal–eight has been hoisted in Pamban, Ramanathapuram district and also in Thoothukudi. However, there was no rain in Thoothukudi till 10.30 pm, said Collector Sandeep Nanduri.