India: Cyclonic storm Thane leaves six dead in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry

Chennai, Dec 30 (PTI) The very severe cyclonic storm 'Thane' in the Bay of Bengal today crossed the Indian coast in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, leaving six persons dead and causing extensive damage to Cuddalore and the neighbouring Union Territory of Puducherry. Five persons died in Cuddalore in incidents of wall collapse and electrocution, officials said. A 45-year old man of Vanarampet village in Puducherry died in house collapse. Train services from southern Tamil Nadu were hit as many of them ran late or were stopped at the nearby stations while flights to international destinations by private carriers including to Kuwait and Malaysia from Chennai were cancelled. Puduchery District Collector S B Deepak Kumar told PTI that rescue operations were in full swing in the union territory. Uprooted trees were being removed from the roads. The regional weather office here said, "The very severe cyclonic storm 'THANE' over southwest Bay of Bengal moved further westward and crossed north Tamil Nadu coast between Cuddalore and Puducherry between 6.30 and 7.30 AM (IST, 05.30 hrs ahead of GMT) today." It had now weakened into a severe cyclonic storm and lay about 30 km west of Cuddalore and 35 km southwest of Puduchery, it said, adding wind speeds of upto 140 kph was recorded during this period. "Under the influence of this system, rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places would occur over north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during next 12 hours and over north interior Tamil Nadu during next 24 hours," a weather bulletin said. Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu was the most affected, with damaged roads rendering it difficult for rescue teams including those from National Disaster Response Force and Fire and Rescue Services to reach the cyclone hit fishing hamlets. District Collector Amuthavalli said even as communication lines remained affected, over 5000 houses of fishermen had been damaged. An official said around 400 trees had been uprooted on the Cuddalore-Chidambaram road, resulting in suspension of vehicular movement. Power production at the Lignite Neyveli Corporation was affected as the mines were submerged. Puducherry was cut off from the neighbouring districts of Villupuram and Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu as several trees fell on the roads due to the impact of gale, official sources said. Meanwhile, high wind speed, reaching upto 90-100 kmph and gusting to 110 kmph was likely along and off north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts and adjoining areas of north interior Tamil Nadu during next few hours and then decrease gradually, the weather office said. Sea condition was very high along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts and fishermen were asked not to venture into the sea. PTI Caption for pic: A view of Marina Beach in Chennai on Friday after Cyclone Thane. The cyclonic storm on Friday morning moved further westward and crossed north Tamil Nadu coast between Cuddalore and Puducherry. PTI Photo