NOVEMBER 18, 2018
Indian fishermen mend fishing nets along a beach on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, in Chennai on November 12, 2018. – Tropical Cyclone ‘Gaja’ is forecasted to make a landfall on the southern coast of India, between Chennai and Nagapattinam on November 15. – (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty Images)
The death toll due to Cyclone Gaja has risen to 45 said Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami today while addressing the media. EPS added that more ministers have been deployed in flood-affected regions to oversee the relief operation.
Appealing to all political parties and the general public in the state, EPS said the main focus at the moment should be to restore normalcy. “It is a natural calamity. There should not be any differences between parties in taking up relief operations. I appeal to everyone to help the affected people,” he said.
He added that the government is still assessing the damage caused and that damage caused by the cyclone is greater in the interior regions of the state. “There has been a lot of impact in the villages, lots of trees have been uprooted. Moreover, many crops have been damaged seriously affecting the farmers,” said the chief minister.
According to the official records on the assessment so far, 1.7 lakh trees have been uprooted, 735 cattle have died, 1.17 lakh houses have been damaged and 88,102-hectare agricultural land has been affected in coastal districts. In the 483 relief camps that have been set up over 2.50 lakh, people have been provided shelter.
Rs 10 lakh will be given to the family of the deceased while people with severe injuries are to be given Rs 1 lakh each and those with minor injuries will be given Rs 25,000 compensation through the Chief Minister Public Relief Fund.
Chief minister EPS is to visit the affected regions on Tuesday and following which he will visit Delhi on November 22 to meet PM Narendra Modi and brief him about the ground situation. The state is also likely to seek funds from the Centre for restoration work.
Courtesy/Source: India Today
