Cuddalore (TN)/Puducherry: Relief operations were in full swing in cyclone Thane battered Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Puducherry where life started limping back to normalcy on Saturday.
The severe cyclonic storm that crossed Tamil Nadu coast yesterday leaving a trail of destruction and claiming 33 lives in rain-related incidents has left about 20,000 people in relief camps in Cuddalore district.
Parts of Cuddalore district wore a battered look with hundreds of uprooted trees and electric posts blocking roads. Essential items like milk became scarce while officials have started supply of drinking water through 60 tankers.
Tamil Nadu Rural Industries Minister M C Sampath, overseeing the relief operations, said restoration of normalcy would take a ‘couple of days’ in the district which bore the brunt of the cyclonic fury that hit the coast with gale speed of 135 kmph.
District Collector V Amudhavalli said five senior IAS officials were supervising the relief works and assessing the 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.
Assistant Collector Rajendran said repairing of roads and restoration of water supply, electricity and telecommunication would take a week’s time. (PTI)
