Cyclone Gaja: Two dead, one injured as storm lashes TN

Two people have died and one injured in Tamil Nadu’s Cuddalore district as Cyclone Gaja lashed the coastal areas of Tamil nadu and Puducherry in the early hours of Friday.

Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority said that as many as 76,290 people were evacuated from low lying areas and put up in 300 relief centers in six districts. Wind speeds are 100-120kmph.

The severe cyclonic storm is very likely to move westwards and weaken gradually into a cyclonic storm during the next six hours, the IMD said.

The local administrations have declared holidays in educational institutions. Helpline numbers 1070(state) and 1077(district) have been announced. The Indian Navy is on high alert.