Hurricane Gaja's balance sheet reaches 45, Tamil Nadu CM asks all leaders to join relief efforts

SALEM (TAMIL NADU): The toll of cyclone Gaja has reached 45 people, said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Sunday and called on leaders of all political parties to participate in relief activities.

He added that relief operations were taking place in areas affected by the hurricane storm and that ministers had been deployed to Nagapattinam, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Pudukottai to monitor him.

The state government is gathering information on areas hard hit by the hurricane, Palaniswami told reporters.

"In the villages, many trees and standing crops have been damaged, affecting the livelihoods of farmers.The scale of the damage is being evaluated.Thanks to now, 45 people have lost the life because of the cyclone, "said the chief minister.

The Tamil Nadu government announced that the Prime Minister's Emergency Fund (CMPRF) would offer a solatium of 10 lakhs to each deceased's family. Those seriously injured would each receive a lakh of rupees, while those whose injuries were not serious would be entitled to compensation of 25,000 rupees.

According to Palaniswami, 1.7 lakh were uprooted, 735 animals died, 1.17 homes were damaged and 88,102 hectares of farmland were affected in the coastal districts.

Nearly 2.50 lakhs were accommodated in 483 relief camps. In addition, 1,014 mobile medical vans have been set up and until now, only one lakh in the affected areas has benefited, said the head of government.

Noting that 39,938 electrical poles and 347 transformers were damaged in the affected districts, he said that 12,532 men from the state power board had been rushed to undertake the repair work.

In response to a question, Palaniswami urged all political leaders and people to lend a hand in this difficult time.

"It's a natural calamity, there should be no difference, as the opposition, the ruling party in the resumption of relief operations, I appeal to all to help those affected," he said. .

Asked about the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tamil Nadu, he said that the state government had informed the Center of the damage caused by the cyclone.

Palaniswami said: "From now on, the authorities and ministers have been ordered to visit the affected areas and if necessary we will seek the assistance of the Center."

"Currently, we are struggling to eliminate uprooted trees and replace damaged power poles," he said.

Deputy Foreign Minister Panneerselvam visited Nagapattinam and said relief operations in the affected districts were on the war footing and that the situation would return to normal.