The deaths due to cyclone Thane that hit the Tamil Nadu coast Friday morning went up to 46 Saturday. Though life started limping back to normalcy in the worst affected Cuddalore district, people were poised to usher in the New Year in darkness.
On Saturday, nine more deaths were reported in three districts of Cuddalore (5), Kanchipuram (3) and Theni (1) in accidents caused by heavy rains. Expressing her deep grief and condolences to the members of the nine bereaved families, Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa said she had ordered release of `200,000 each to the families. With this, the district-wise deaths in Tamil Nadu are: Cuddalore (26), Villupuram (2), Tiruvallur (2), Kanchipuram (3), and Theni and Chennai one each. Apart from the 35 deaths in Tamil Nadu, four deaths were reported in Kerala and seven in Puducherry mainly due to electrocution, falling of trees and collapse of roofs or walls.
Meanwhile, life was limping back to normalcy in Cuddalore.
“Major roads are being cleared of uprooted trees and traffic has resumed. People are returning to their homes or going to the homes of their relatives from relief camps. Life is coming back to normalcy,” Cuddalore Deputy Superintendent of Police S. Vanitha told IANS. Several trees, street lamp posts and electric poles were uprooted Friday at Cuddalore by the cyclone that packed a wind speed of 140 kmph when it crossed the coast. “There is no power in the district, which in turn is making supply of water at homes a problem. We are not able to draw water from the wells. Supply of milk was there this (Saturday) morning,” a housewife in Cuddalore said.
According to a district administration official, 50 percent power supply is expected to be restored Sunday and water is supplied to the people in tankers.